The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has commended the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, his Sector Commanders and troops of the Operation for pursuing his directive of capturing the purported Boko Haram terrorists leader, Abubakar Shekau dead or alivewithin 40 days beginning from 21st July 2017 which elapsed 30th August, 2017.

In a statement issuedon Friday, Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman said although the leader has not been captured, theCOAS noted with satisfaction the zeal and determination with which the directive was pursued.

“He congratulated the Commander for eliminating five key leaders of the terrorists group that were the closest associates and right hand men of the terrorist group leader.

“Within the sameperiod 82 of the Boko Haram terrorists were eliminated. Therefore, the Commander was very close to achieving the directive.The Theatre Commander has asked for the extension of the deadline and it has been granted by the COAS.

“Giving deadlines and extensions are strategic means of focusing troops’ efforts in the theatre. Currently the main thrust of theOperation is the decapitation of all the remaining terrorists’ factions within theNigerian territory.

With this feat achieved, the relevance ofShekau is no longer of any consequence. “The people of the North East and indeed all Nigerians are enjoined to be more confident of the Nigerian troops and go about their normal activities,” Usman said.