Image copyright Getty Images Image caption It is thought that some of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls may have been held in the forest

The Nigerian army has driven Boko Haram militants from the last camp in their Sambisa forest stronghold, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

"The terrorists are on the run and no longer have a place to hide," Mr Buhari said in a statement.

The Islamists' camp fell at 13:35 local time (12:35 GMT) on Friday, he added.

The army has been engaged for the last few weeks in a major offensive in the forest, a huge former colonial game reserve in north-eastern Borno state.

There has been speculation that some of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped in 2014 were being held in the forest, after it was named by a small number of girls who escaped.

Mr Buhari said in his statement that efforts to find the remaining girls would be intensified.

He went on to congratulate the armed forces on the Sambisa operation, calling the apparent success "long-awaited and most gratifying".

"I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents," he said.

The army has recaptured significant areas of territory previously controlled by Boko Haram since an offensive began in February.

The militant group still stages suicide bombings in the northeast of Nigeria and in neighbouring Niger and Cameroon.

Its fighters are thought to have killed more than 15,000 people and displaced more than two million during a seven-year insurgency in the region.

Leader Abubakar Shekau, who has pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, promotes a version of Islam that forbids Muslims from taking part in any political or social activity associated with Western society.</s>Nigerian soldiers man a checkpoint in Gwoza, Nigeria, in April 2015, when the town was newly liberated from Boko Haram. AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi ABUJA (Reuters) — Nigeria's army has captured a key Boko Haram camp, the Islamist militant group's last enclave in the vast northeastern Sambisa forest that was its stronghold, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday.

Boko Haram has killed 15,000 people and displaced more than two million during its seven-year insurgency to create an Islamic state governed by a strict interpretation of sharia law in the northeast of Africa's most populous nation.

The jihadist group controlled an area in the northeast around the size of Belgium in early 2015 but has been pushed out of most of that territory over the last year by Nigeria's army and troops from neighbouring countries, moving to a base in the Sambisa forest, a former colonial game reserve.

"I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the camp fell at about 1:35pm on Friday, December 23, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide," Buhari said in an emailed statement.

Buhari said the capture of Camp Zero marked the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa forest", which is in northeast Nigeria's Borno state.

It follows a large-scale offensive in the forest by the Nigerian military in the last few weeks. Reuters was unable to independently verify whether the camp had been captured.

The military has said in the last few days that Boko Haram fighters are running away from the forest into surrounding areas and people have been told to be vigilant.</s>The Nigerian army has defeated Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest, one of the jihadists' last remaining strongholds, President Muhammadu Buhari said Saturday.

A campaign lasting for months in the 1,300 square-kilometre forest in northeastern Borno state led to the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest" on Friday, Buhari said in a statement.

He congratulated his troops for "finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at 'Camp Zero', which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest".</s>The Nigerian Army has arrested a white man among Boko Haram insurgents in the Sambisa Forest.

A soldier has disclosed that hundreds of Boko Haram fighters were killed during the offensive to liberate Sambisa forest.

According to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), a soldier, who took part in the operation that liberated Sambisa Forest said the foreigner whose nationality has not been disclosed, was arrested inside the forest on Thursday, December 22, when troops cleared Boko Haram insurgents out of their last fortress.

The soldier who made the disclosure on Sunday, December 25, said hundreds of Boko Haram fighters were killed during the offensive that began about a month ago.

The source added that many others were captured alive while attempting to flee.

“Hundreds of Boko Haram captives, including men, women and children have been freed and taken to safety.

“All I can tell you is that no big Boko Haram commander is alive in the Sambisa; we are in control of the forest.

“It took months of planning and mapping because of the size, difficult weather and other factors in the Sambisa Forest,” he said.

The Soldier said major factors that delayed the takeover of the insurgents' stronghold was the thousands of people, including those living in villages around the vast forest that were being held as human shield by the Boko Haram leaders.

According to the source, the army deployed 4,200 troops to Sambisa Forest through various fronts, including Ngurosoye, Konduga/Aulari, Bama, Fulka and Damboa.

“The 151 Battalion of the Nigerian Army advanced into Sambisa through the Banki-Darul Jamal axis, the 27 Battalion advanced through Mafa, the 152 Battalion advanced through Pulka, while the 222 Battalion approached the dreaded forest through the Maiduguri axis,” another soldier, who participated in the operation,” he said.

The soldier said while the operation lasted day and night, mine detectors cleared the way for troops to move in to confront the insurgents, who were equally well armed with sophisticated fighting equipment.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the Nigerian Army after troops captured Boko Haram stronghold in the Sambisa forest.

President Buhari in a goodwill message to the troops on Saturday, December 24, expressed his excitement and gratitude over the news which he said was delivered to him by the Chief of Army staff Tukur Buratai.

The Boko Haram's Camp Zero as the military called it fell at about 1.35pm on Friday, December 23.</s>President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Nigeria military for their gallant feat in capturing Boko Haram camp in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

In his goodwill message to officers and soldiers of the Operation Lafiya Dole, President Buhari urged the military to ensure that efforts were intensified “to locate and free our remaining Chibok girls still in captivity. May God be with them”.

The President who lavished praise on the military in their latest achievement said “I am delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest”.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at “Camp Zero”, which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest” Buhari stated further.

The president who said he received the news of the crushing of the Boko Haram camp in the dreaded forest by the Chief of Army Staff at about 1:35pm on Friday, December 22 noted that with the defeat of the terrorists, “the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide”.

He urge the military “to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice”.

The president called “on all Nigerians to cooperate and support the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies by providing useful information that will expose all the terrorists hiding among the populace”.

“I also want to congratulate and commend the able leadership of the Nigerian Army in particular and indeed, that of the Armed Forces in general, for making this possible. This, no doubt, will go a long way in improving the security situation not only in the North East, but the country in general. But we must not let our guards down,” he appealed.

“Once more, congratulations to our troops and all who, in one way or the other, contributed to this most commendable and momentous effort. May the Almighty continue to be with you. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a most rewarding and peaceful Year 2017 ahead”.</s>(LAGOS, Nigeria) — Nigeria’s president says the Boko Haram extremist group has finally been crushed, has been driven from its last forest stronghold with fighters on the run and no place to hide.

But despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s victorious announcement Saturday, Nigeria is unlikely to see an end soon to the deadly suicide bombings, village attacks and assaults on remote military outposts carried out by Nigeria’s homegrown Islamic extremist group.

Buhari says “gallant troops” on Friday drove the insurgents out of their “Camp Zero” deep in the northeastern Sambisa Forest. The forest is also believed to hold more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in April 2014 by Boko Haram from a school in the town of Chibok.

Buhari urges troops to intensify efforts “to locate and free our remaining Chibok girls still in captivity.”</s>Buhari Declares Victory Over Boko Haram, Says Sambisa Forest Has Fallen

President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army for their historic final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa Forest.

In a goodwill message to troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole on the successful capture of the Boko Haram enclave in Sambisa Forest, Buhari said that he was proud of the troops.

He said: “I am delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at “Camp Zero”, which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest. “I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Camp fell at about 1:35pm on Friday, Dec. 22, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide.” He urged troops to maintain the tempo by pursuing the insurgents and bringing them to justice. The President, therefore, called on all Nigerians to cooperate and support the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies by providing useful information that would expose all the terrorists hiding among the populace. He, however, urged the troops to further intensify their efforts towards liberating the remaining Chibok girls still in captivity. President Buhari also congratulated and commended “the able leadership of the Nigerian Army in particular and indeed, that of the Armed Forces in general, for making this possible. “This, no doubt, will go a long way in improving the security situation not only in the North-East, but the country in general. But we must not let our guards down. “Once more, congratulations to our troops and all who, in one way or the other, contributed to this most commendable and momentous effort. May the Almighty continue to be with you. “I wish you a Merry Christmas and a most rewarding and peaceful Year 2017 ahead.’’

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Also, Like us on facebook</s>Nigerian troops have flushed out Boko Haram ragtag forces from their long held fortress, Sambisa Forest, an emphatic indication that Nigeria has dealt a crushing blow on the seven year old insurgency.

 President Muhammadu Buhari broke the news himself in a special message to Nigerian troops fighting under Operation Lafiya Dole,

“I am delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, on receipt of the long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend the determination, courage and resilience of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at “Camp Zero”, which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest.

“I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Camp fell at about 1:35pm on Friday, December 23, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide. I urge you to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice.

“I, therefore, call on all Nigerians to cooperate and support the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies by providing useful information that will expose all the terrorists hiding among the populace.

 Further efforts should be intensified to locate and free our remaining Chibok girls still in captivity. May God be with them.

“I also want to congratulate and commend the able leadership of the Nigerian Army in particular and indeed, that of the Armed Forces in general, for making this possible. This, no doubt, will go a long way in improving the security situation not only in the North East, but the country in general. But we must not let our guards down.

 Once more, congratulations to our troops and all who, in one way or the other, contributed to this most commendable and momentous effort. May the Almighty continue to be with you.

 ” I wish you a Merry Christmas and a most rewarding and peaceful Year 2017 ahead.”</s>iStock/Thinkstock(ABUJA, Nigeria) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announced Saturday that Boko Haram had been driven out of the Islamist militant group’s stronghold in the Sambisa Forest.

“The terrorists are on the run and no longer have a place to hide,” Buhari said in a statement according to BBC.

The Nigerian army gained control of the camp on Friday, according to Buhari, after launching a major offensive in the forest over the past few weeks, BBC reports.

The Sambisa Forest, in the northeastern Borno state, was also believed to be where the Chibok schoolgirls were taken when they were kidnapped by militants pretending to be guards in 2014.</s>LAGOS, Nigeria – The Boko Haram extremist group has finally been crushed — driven from its last forest enclave with fighters on the run and no place to hide, Nigeria’s president declared Saturday.

His victorious statement came as the Islamic State group, with which one faction of Boko Haram is allied, claimed a successful attack on an army barracks in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe state “killed and wounded many.” The communique on social media said the attack took place Thursday, the same day President Muhammadu Buhari said troops defeated Boko Haram in its Sambisa Forest stronghold in neighbouring Borno state.

It was an indicator that despite Buhari’s announcement, Nigeria is unlikely to see an end soon to the deadly suicide bombings, village attacks and assaults on remote military outposts in northeastern Nigeria carried out by the country’s homegrown Islamic extremist group. Already, there are reports that the insurgents have been regrouping in Taraba and Bauchi states, south of their northeastern stronghold in Borno state, and taking advantage of a decades-old conflict in central Nigeria between mainly Muslim nomadic cattle herders and sedentary Christian farmers.

In a statement, Buhari commended Nigerian troops for “finally entering and crushing the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents at Camp Zero,” which is located deep within the heart of Sambisa Forest.

He announced the “long-awaited and most gratifying news of the final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave” and declared “the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide.”

READ MORE: Boko Haram survivors raped by police, soldiers in ‘safe’ camps

The Sambisa Forest was where Boko Haram was believed to be holding some of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in April 2014 from a school in the town of Chibok — a mass abduction that brought the Islamic extremists world attention and sparked an international social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls.

“Further efforts should be intensified to locate and free our remaining Chibok girls still in captivity. May God be with them,” Buhari said.

Nigerian troops have freed thousands of Boko Haram captives this year, but none of the Chibok girls among 276 seized from a government boarding school.

Dozens of girls escaped within hours of their abduction. In October, 21 Chibok girls were freed through negotiations between the government and Boko Haram, brokered by the Swiss government and the International Red Cross. In May, one Chibok girl escaped on her own. Some 197 remain missing.

The freed girls have indicated that several others have died in captivity from things like malaria and a snake bite.

Boko Haram’s seven-year Islamic uprising has killed more than 20,000 people, spread across Nigeria’s borders, driven some 2.3 million people from their homes and created a massive humanitarian crisis. The U.N. has warned that 5.1 million people are in danger of starving in northeast Nigeria, including in areas too dangerous to reach because of Boko Haram ambushes.
President Muhammadu Buhari announces that the Nigerian Armed Forces have successfully driven out Boko Haram militants from their last stronghold in the Sambisa Forest in northeastern Nigeria.