Boko Haram fighters have gathered in their numbers at Sambisa Forest, the stronghold of the sect in northeast, as a military offensive tries to flush them out from the forest, a local vigilante told AFP news agency.


The vigilante, who requested anonymity for security reasons as he was part of the operation, said that the Boko Haram are in large numbers in Sambisa.


“All their fighters who were pushed out of Bama, Dikwa, Gwoza and Damboa (in Borno State) all moved to Boko Haram camps in Sambisa.


“They (Boko Haram) have buried landmines all over the routes leading to their camps in the forest, which is no doubt a huge obstacle retarding the military offensive against them,” he said.

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Troops were forced to turn back just five kilometres (three miles) from Boko Haram’s main camp because of landmines.


“One soldier and three vigilantes were killed when their vehicle hit a mine,” he said.


But the vigilante said progress over the last three days had been severely hindered.


“There are no soldiers in Sambisa right now. We all returned to Bama after the horrifying experience of manoeuvring through minefields,” he added.


Meanwhile, the Boko Haram sect has re-branded its name.

The group now wants to be called “Islamic State of West Africa Province.”


The news according BBC, Boko Haram has released new images of its fighters and is now calling itself Islamic State’s West Africa Province.


Earlier in March, Boko Haram had publicly pledged allegiance to ISIS, the Syrian terror group.


Landmines Kill Soldier, Civilian-JTF as Troops Storm Sambisa Forest


At least one soldier and a Civilian-JTF operative were killed by landmines buried by Boko Haram terrorists as Nigerian troops began ground invasion of Sambisa Forest, credible security sources said.


LEADERSHIP Friday learnt authoritatively that troops might have retreated for further strategic planning as more landmines continued to go off.
Before the troops decided to embark on a ground campaign at Sambisa Forest which is believed to be harbouring the Chibok schoolgirls and some of the Boko Haram terrorists, an aerial bombardment was launched for days with the intention of setting off mines and chasing the insurgents out of their hideouts.


A top officer of one of Nigeria’s security services who would not want to be named in this report confirmed to LEADERSHIP Friday that “it is expected that such a war would be a tough one, but our soldiers are putting up a brilliant warfare so far. We have lost two persons – a solider and a member of the Civilian-JTF were killed by landmines”.


Meanwhile, villagers from around Sambisa Forest have confirmed a sustained air strike by Nigeria Air Force on Sambisa Forest. They also told journalists that Boko Haram terrorists are fleeing the forest, carrying empty guns as they had run short of ammunition.


The poorly armed insurgents now pick on poor villagers whom they maim using knives, bows and arrows.

Top terrorist commander dies in encounter with troops, says Olukolade

The Defence Headquarters said a notorious top terrorist commander, Abu Mujahid, was among the terrorists that died during an encounter with troops on the outskirts of Alagarno, Borno State, on April 20.


This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade.


Olukolade said the terrorists had staged a daring attack on troops who were on patrol in the area. The troops repelled the attack and killed a number of them.


The defence spokesman said some rocket propelled grenades as well as vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft guns were either captured or destroyed in the encounter.


Olukolde also said that the military operations were continuing in the form of offensive action on identified terrorists in some forest locations.
He said aggressive patrols, mop-up and cordon-and-search operations were also continuing in the other locations in search for weapons and terrorists.


Olukolade further revealed that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by the terrorists to deter advancing troops were being carefully cleared as troops continued to pursue the fleeing insurgents.


Chad’s troops rescue 43 Boko Haram child soldiers in Nigeria
Chadian Army spokesman, Col. Azem Agouna, said on Wednesday that they had repatriated 43 children who had been kidnapped by Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram and forced to become child soldiers.


He said in N’djamena that the children, who are aged 12 and older and are Chadian nationals, were found in the Nigerian town of Damasak, in North-Eastern Borno.


Damasak was under Boko Haram control until Chadian and Nigerian forces recaptured the town in early March.


Agouna said the children managed to escape during the clashes between the insurgents and soldiers, while the local families helped them to hide from the jihadists.


He disclosed that when it was certain that Boko Haram had been defeated and would not return to the town, the children came out of their hiding places and asked Chadian security forces for help.


The spokesman said the army would look into how and when Boko Haram abducted the children from Chad.