The Ministry of Defence late yesterday denied the report, earlier in the day, byNews Expressquoting Minister of Defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali as saying that that two local governments in the North East are still under Boko Haram occupation and that the abducted Chibok girls are being used as suicide bombers. The report was based on an interview which the minister granted the Voice of America (VOA).

However, the ministry said in a swift reaction by the Public Relations Officer, Colonel Tukur Gusau: “For the avoidance of doubt it is important to state here that the Honourable Minister as a guest in the studios ofVoice of America spoke in Hausa Languageand while giving appraisal of the success recorded by the gallant Armed Forces under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari the Honourable Ministersaid hitherto over sixty Local Governments were under the occupation of Boko Haramin the North East but now only about two were having some remnants of Boko Haram activities but not under the complete occupation of the terrorists.

“On the issue of Chibok Girls the Honourable Minister was not referring to the girls abducted on 14 April 2014 from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok rather he was referring to the other girls abducted by the terrorists from Chibok Local Government and its environs.”

•Photo shows Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali.