by Dolapo Adelana

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said Boko Haram terrorists have been considerably weakened by the military.

Osinbajo, who fielded questions from journalists after receiving briefings from Security Chiefs noted that the terrorists still had the capability to use suicide bombers said the military will not rest on its oars.

“‎As you know the Boko Haram as a military force has been degraded, they are not holding territory at the moment; our armed forces have been able to dislodge them from practically all territories they were holding in the past.

“What is happening now is just once in a while attacks by suicide bombers. By the nature of asymmetric warfare we are not able to say it has ended now. But I think that militarily they have been contained, there is no question at all that Boko Haram as a fighting force has been degraded.

“We are still vigilant because of their capacity to do damage with suicide bombers. I am very satisfied with what the military has done so far.‎ And the briefing has shown graphically that they are really on top of their game and that they are doing excellently well in the north east.” he added

Osinbajo explained that the security briefings were routine and the fact that we received the briefing doesn’t mean that President Muhammadu Buhari will not return soon.

He said, “No no no! Almost every month these briefings are held, it is routine and it is the president who puts in place this whole idea of regular briefing. It is even more important that we do so because of some of the issues arising like the cases of kidnappings and I wanted the IG to inform us fully.

“Besides, the President is a process person and certainly I am going to speak with him here on developments here. So it is not an indication of anything. It is only an indication that we are committed ‎to the security of the nation.  The primary duty of government is to ensure lives and properties and that is why we have to be regularly briefed.

“‎The good thing is that our men are going extraordinarily well in the north east and that Southern Kaduna has also been contained. The peace building process is also going on very well.”

Oludolapo Adelana

Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.