[1] This is the Sambisa Forest Game Reserve, which once used to be tourist attraction in Borno State. It was a game reserve that dates back to colonial times and covers an area of approximately 60,000 square miles.
[2] In 1991, the then Borno State government incorporated it into the Chad Basin National Park with a total area of about 2,258 square kilometres. This Chad Basin National Park also included the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in modern day Yobe State.
[3] At the time, the Sambisa Game Reserve had leopards, lions, elephants, hyenas and huts built for tourists to stay in. However, in typical Naija style, we allowed the place to fall into a state of disrepair as the animals died, the roofs leaked, weeds covered the roads, water stopped flowing, there was no power and the whole reserve became another derelict white elephant.
[4] As of today, the buildings are still standing and the large expanse of land remains there. Boko Haram subsequently found itself a ready made headquarters and based all its fighters there, from where it carries out murderous attacks on he rest of Nigeria.
[5] Everybody in the Nigerian government and military knows where the Sambisa Game Reserve is and more to the point, they are fully aware of the fact that Boko Haram are camped there.
[6] Information from the area suggests that Boko Haram fighters can be seen in the game reserve relaxing and training. Their women carry out the usual chores like cooking, laundry, etc in the area and the place is like any normal Nigerian community.
[7] It is thus no surprise that Boko Haram took the abducted Chibok girls to the Sambisa Game Reserve as it has all the facilities to accommodate them. There is no military presence in the area despite the creation of the Seventh Mechanised Division of the Nigerian army based in Maiduguri with approximately 9,000 men.
[8] Can someone please tell us what is going on here. Everyone in Nigeria knows where Boko Haram is apart from the government and the military. If the Nigerian military wanted to eliminate Boko Haram, I believe they could do it within two days.
[9] All the local civilians have fled, so all the Nigerian Air Force needed to have done is flatten the game reserve. About 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles and some napalm would have seen off Boko Haram for good. Back this up by sending about 50 T-55 tanks and say 2,000 infantrymen and the entire terrorist group will be mopped up.
[10] Clearly, there is a political reason why Boko Haram has not been eliminated yet. I wonder if the abduction of these girls will provide the government with the political will to act. Once they get them back, will we see Sambisa leveled once and for all? Can the government please stop telling us we are winning the war against terrorism when we have not even entered into battle at all. We are waiting for the war to be declared!
source: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540042819439639&id=370495769727679&set=a.371316862978903.1073741827.370495769727679&refid=52&__tn__=E
[2] In 1991, the then Borno State government incorporated it into the Chad Basin National Park with a total area of about 2,258 square kilometres. This Chad Basin National Park also included the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in modern day Yobe State.
[3] At the time, the Sambisa Game Reserve had leopards, lions, elephants, hyenas and huts built for tourists to stay in. However, in typical Naija style, we allowed the place to fall into a state of disrepair as the animals died, the roofs leaked, weeds covered the roads, water stopped flowing, there was no power and the whole reserve became another derelict white elephant.
[4] As of today, the buildings are still standing and the large expanse of land remains there. Boko Haram subsequently found itself a ready made headquarters and based all its fighters there, from where it carries out murderous attacks on he rest of Nigeria.
[5] Everybody in the Nigerian government and military knows where the Sambisa Game Reserve is and more to the point, they are fully aware of the fact that Boko Haram are camped there.
[6] Information from the area suggests that Boko Haram fighters can be seen in the game reserve relaxing and training. Their women carry out the usual chores like cooking, laundry, etc in the area and the place is like any normal Nigerian community.
[7] It is thus no surprise that Boko Haram took the abducted Chibok girls to the Sambisa Game Reserve as it has all the facilities to accommodate them. There is no military presence in the area despite the creation of the Seventh Mechanised Division of the Nigerian army based in Maiduguri with approximately 9,000 men.
[8] Can someone please tell us what is going on here. Everyone in Nigeria knows where Boko Haram is apart from the government and the military. If the Nigerian military wanted to eliminate Boko Haram, I believe they could do it within two days.
[9] All the local civilians have fled, so all the Nigerian Air Force needed to have done is flatten the game reserve. About 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles and some napalm would have seen off Boko Haram for good. Back this up by sending about 50 T-55 tanks and say 2,000 infantrymen and the entire terrorist group will be mopped up.
[10] Clearly, there is a political reason why Boko Haram has not been eliminated yet. I wonder if the abduction of these girls will provide the government with the political will to act. Once they get them back, will we see Sambisa leveled once and for all? Can the government please stop telling us we are winning the war against terrorism when we have not even entered into battle at all. We are waiting for the war to be declared!
source: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540042819439639&id=370495769727679&set=a.371316862978903.1073741827.370495769727679&refid=52&__tn__=E
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