War rages in Sambisa forest as Multinational troops invade forest

The Nigerian military says its troops backed by fighter jets have invaded Boko Haram’s

last known stronghold, the Sambisa forest, in Borno State in an effort to finally defeat the violent sect.

Armies from Nigeria and neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon have in the past two months launched a concerted push to try to crush the group, which has killed thousands and abducted hundreds in the North-East.

“The operations, especially in forest locations, are progressing in defiance of obstacles and land mines emplaced by the terrorists,” the Nigerian military said in a statement on Wednesday.

Reports from the area are difficult to independently verify since the media and non-governmental organizations have limited access.

But a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force – made up of Nigerians, supporting military operations against Boko Haram – confirmed the latest reports to Al Jazeera, adding that fighting had left five vigilance group members and two soldiers dead.

The Sambisa forest is about 100km from the village of Chibok from where Boko Haram abducted more than 200 secondary school girls a year ago.

An official in the Chadian army told the Reuters news agency that Chadian and Cameroonian troops were ready to attack Sambisa, which lies near the Cameroon border, from the other side and would move in soon.

Chadian troops were assembling in Mora, northern Cameroon, ahead of the joint operation, a Cameroonian army official said.

Nigerian ground forces backed by war planes invaded the dreaded group Boko Haram’s last known stronghold of the Sambisa forest on Wednesday, in an effort to finally defeat their six-year insurgency, two military sources said.

It would be recalled that armies from Nigeria and neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon have in the past two months launched a concerted push to try to crush the insurgents.

Details later..