The noose has tightened on Boko Haram insurgents following the continued onslaught of Nigeria’s military which launched an all-out war against the sect last week. More towns and villages have been liberated even as another 120 insurgents have been arrested, with those yet to fall into the hands of Nigerian troops desperately seeking entry into neighbouring countries.

“The Special Forces have now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the terrorist camps sited in the vicinity of these localities. The troops are already interacting with locals and citizens assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of insurgents,” said Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade.

According to Olukolade in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, “Terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained as they have had encounter with Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border. Advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist groups. In Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organised burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with Special Forces the previous day.

“The arrested insurgents are in custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated.”

Defence Headquarters also disowned photographs being circulated by some persons who claim that the photos are those of the ongoing war against terror in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. It declared that “the photographs are questionable as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.”

Meanwhile, following the rapid progress being made in the war, the curfew imposed on Yobe and parts of Borno was relaxed yesterday so as to reduce the hardship being faced by innocent people.

Spokesman of the military Joint Task Force (JTF), Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, said in a statement: “The 24-hour curfew earlier imposed in Gamboru-Customs Area, Mari Kuwait Area of University of Maiduguri, Bakin Kogi Area, Kasuwan Shanu-Kofar Biyu Area has been relaxed from 6am to 7pm.”

Other affected areascare Ruwan Zafi-Customs Area; 202 Housing Estate; Bama Road; 303 Housing Estate Bama Road; Dikwa Low-cost Housing Estate; Simari-Zannari-Kwanan Yobe Area; 505 Abba Gana Terab Housing Estate; Muna Garage Road; Chad Basin Muna Garage Road; Baga Road Federal Lowcost Area; Bolori; Jajeri and Umamari Area.

And in Yobe, the Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego said in a statement: “In view of the relative peace in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and its environs, the curfew has now been relaxed from 6am to 6pm.”

•Photo, courtesy Vanguard, shows Nigerian troops on duty in Borno.