Intelligence reports have revealed that at least half of the Chibok girls are still alive but are being held in various locations across North-Eastern Nigeria and Lake Chad.
This Day was informed by an intelligence source who vouched that some, but not all, of the Chibok girls were still alive. According to the source, the military intelligence is aware that some the girls were still being held by terrorists in different locations, while some had been married off and may never be found again. Furthermore, the top intelligence officer revealed that advanced military intelligence in the last couple of months has helped to track down, dislodge, downgrade and destroy terrorist cells or enclaves.
“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” the source said. The new service chiefs have adopted intelligence-led measures for the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations and there is a noticeable cooperation between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Nigerian Army, which has yielded the desired success.
“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. Military intelligence, he said, has further discovered that the new Daodu-led 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. He added: “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 Federal Government is now marshalling out a plan for the safe return and rehabilitation of millions of people displaced in the North-eastern part of the country by Boko Haram activities. The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) driven programme tagged: ‘Safe Corridor’, which was to be unveiled yesterday by the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan, was postponed to an undecided date to make it a more inclusive and programme for all stakeholders. Major General Aliyu, the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, apologised for the postponement of the programme, stating that it will be a successful project, which will be handled at Presidential level.