From Nigeria to Niger…the quest for a new frontline

Since the inception of the Buhari led government of Nigeria, the Zambisa forest infamous for being the fortress and hiding place for the terror group Boko Haram has been reported to have been systematically combed and occupied by the Nigerian Army, which meant that the terror group has fled the area and peace has returned to the Northeast of Nigeria.

Varying reports suggest that the battle against Boko Haram in Nigeria has been won and the previously incessant mass killings and bombings in the northeast region have come to an end and no longer would Nigerians deal with videos of Abubakar Shekau, his AK 47 and chewing stick posing in front of heavy military artillery and taunting the authorities and threatening mass killings and striking terror in the hearts of Nigerians.

However, the presence of Boko Haram is “alive and kicking” figuratively in the South-eastern region of neighbouring Niger-Republic, a country who have shared the horrors of Boko Haram with Nigeria since the emergence of the terror group. Boko Haram has been known to shuttle between the borders of Niger-Republic to the south-east and Nigeria to the north-east.

It appears that there is a quest for the terror group to find a new base in Niger-Republic from where it can establish itself and launch terror across the Chad basin and Nigeria on a systematic and sophisticated manner. A “safe-haven” that can serve as their new frontline, since Zambisa has been taken off them, it appears that the town of Bosso is the favoured “hot spot”.