The resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and the exposure of not less than 220,000 residents in war-torn north-east Nigeria at the mercy of the insurgents, has been blamed on a new strategy adopted by the military in the war against the terrorists.
According to Reuters, the strategy tagged: “Super Camps”, has also made almos impossible for humanitarian agencies to reach an estimated 100,000 residents.
The report said the the army’s withdrawal “coincided with a string of insurgent raids on newly unprotected towns and has left the militants free to set up checkpoints on roads as they roam more freely across the countryside.”
The situation has been described as “a mess and a disaster for humanitarian actors.”
The news agency quoted security sources as saying soldiers no longer protect some key roads, “cutting off access for humanitarians workers as more of the region falls under the sway of the insurgents.”
“The military departures so far have cut off more than 100,000 people from aid and if more soldiers go, as many as 121,000 other civilians could flee their towns,” one of the relief agencies reportedly said in its briefing note.
“The population of towns being abandoned by the military is a combined 223,000 people.”
Tukur Buratai, Nigeria’s chief of army staff, had while launching the new strategy, said it entails the “concentration of formidable fighting force in strongholds that have the capacity for swift mobility.”
But Reuters quoted sources at an international aid organisation as well as security officials as saying the insurgents have taken advantage of the soldiers’ withdrawal to torment residents.
Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, has also blamed the resurgents of Boko Haram attacks on the new strategy.
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