Boko Haram attack: Defence Headquarters reveals why terrorists succeeded

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, yesterday blamed the weather and informants for the recent Boko Haram killings, including the attacks on an oil exploration team and the University of Maiduguri lecturers.
The Director of Defence Information, Major Gen. John Enenche, while speaking on Channels Television, claimed that there was a collaboration with the terrorists as the insurgents didn’t attack other convoys apart from the oil exploration team.

Enenche stated, “On the Boko Haram attacks, weather affects our operations; it is true. Just like the rainy season affects transportation, it is on our side too. The impact zone of a bomb is highly reduced during rainy season. The hardness of the ground is also a factor to give effect to shrapnel to eliminate the enemies.
“Our movement is also affected in the rainy season. To take off an aircraft, you have to consider the weather. I am yet to see an aircraft that can fly in all kinds of weather. But it is not that the terrorists have taken all the territory. No, I believe that we will overcome this.

“I did a tactical operational analysis of this attack (oil exploration team). It was not without information. The nature of this incident is strongly information-bound. There were collaborators and fifth-columnists.
“Otherwise, how come the insurgents did not attack them on the first day when they finished the exercise with the soldiers? So, they had an informant who gave the terrorists information and ensured that they came to a place where they could easily be ambushed. This is it.”

On the orders to relocate to Borno State given by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the defence spokesman said the service chiefs had complied, adding that it was simply to boost the troops’ morale.
“We cannot really say the Armed Forces are not on top of the situation. The pockets of attacks here and there are strongly based on information from their terrorists’ collaborators who are still among us.
“On the vice-president’s instructions to go back to the command centre, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Air Staff are fully in coordination of the operations and their presence will boost the morale of the troops,”‎ he said.