Reports have claimed that at least half of the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram Islamic sect in April 2014 are still alive, but are held in various secret locations in the North-east region of Nigeria and neighbouring countries of the Lake Chad region, according to ThisDay.
The report quoted a source who disclosed that military intelligence was aware that some of the girls were still with the terrorists in different locations, while some had been married off and may never be found again.
This revelation came as the division between the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of the Boko Haram sect and a splinter group led by the recently acclaimed leader, Mahamat Daoud, has weakened the resolve of the terrorists to carry on with their mission for an Islamic Caliphate.
According to the intelligence source, “We will never find all the girls again as intelligence findings revealed some have died, and some married away, while the rest are still divided among the terror groups in different locations both within the North-east and some neighbouring countries.”
While noting that advanced military intelligence in the last couple of months has helped to track down, dislodge, downgrade and destroy terrorist cells or enclaves, the top intelligence officer noted that the new service chiefs had adopted intelligence-led measures for the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
The officer, who pointed out that the noticeable cooperation between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Nigerian Army, stressed that this has yielded the desired success, had much to do with coordinated and sophisticated military intelligence.
“The aerial bombardments are more precise and decisive, hitting the right targets deep inside the Sambisa Forest, while the ground troops move with the aide of accurate and water-tight intelligence reports.
“Apart from the increasing involvement and coordination of the fighting between the army and air force, there is a highly centralised and sophisticated coordination of defence intelligence,” the source said.
In addition, the officer said there are cracks in the Boko Haram camp since Daodu-led group broke ranks from the Shekau pro-Islamic State (ISIS) group, stating that the division was taking its toll on Boko Haram members and breaking their will to fight.
Military intelligence, he said, had discovered that the new group, which is favourably disposed to negotiations with the federal government, pulled away from the Shekau-led remnants when their former leader formed an alliance with ISIS.
“This was against their original plan. In fact, they got fed up with the way Shekau was going on with the terror campaign, especially the alliance with ISIS. So right now, there are two camps and they are no longer coordinated and active
“Also, as they are increasingly in disarray, the precise and effective bombings in Sambisa Forest and other locations are driving them towards the border areas,” the source added.
