In a correspondence with Bloomberg, the president asserted that the National Livestock Transformation Plan, putting ranching at its core, is the only way to deplete the competition for resources at the core of the clashes.

According to him, governors from some individual states have sought to play politics where ranches have been established; but where they have been disputes have dramatically reduced.

Speaking further regarding the war against terror, President Buhari explained that in 2015, Boko Haram held territory the size of Belgium within the borders of Nigeria, adding that today, however, the terrorists are close to extinct as a military force.

Buhari while reaffirming that a leader of ISWAP was eliminated by a Nigerian Airforce airstrike in March, noted that the jets acquired from the US and intelligence shared by the British were not provided to previous administrations and stand as testament to renewed trust re-built between Nigeria and her traditional western allies under his government.

“Terrorists no longer hold any territory in Nigeria, and their leaders are deceased; and vast infrastructure development sets the country on course for sustainable and equitable growth,” Buhari stated.

He urged the same international partners to take additional steps costing them nothing, by proscribing another group – IPOB – as a terrorist organization.

“Their leadership enjoys safe haven in the West, broadcasting hate speech into Nigeria from London, spending millions lobbying members of the US Congress, and freely using international financial networks to arm agitators on the ground.

“This must stop,” the president declared.

As regards corruption, President Buhari assured Nigerians that his government will leave Nigeria in a far better place than they found it.

In his opinion, corruption is less hidden, for Nigerians feel empowered to report it without fear and stolen monies are now being returned.

It was reported in September that Al-Barnawi who is the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf who was also killed by security forces in 2009, was killed in Borno state.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor confirmed his death on Thursday, October 14, during the ministerial briefing organised by the presidential communications team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Irabor said “I can authoritatively confirm to you that Abu Musab is dead. As simple as that. He is dead and remains dead.”

Al-Barnawi was announced as the leader of the Islamic State (IS) militant group’s West African affiliate, Boko Haram in 2016.

Prior to this, late Abubakar Shekau was Boko Haram’s leader following the death of Al-Barnawi’s father. His dislodgement in 2016 heralded the rise of the relatively young Al-Barnawi as ISWAP leader and at the same time, the split of the terrorist group into two factions.

Al-Barnawi who was reportedly trained by ISIS for years ahead of his ascension to power was also said to have been chosen as leader of the group to punish Shekau who reportedly “violated all known norms” and to also retain the confidence of Boko Haram fighters who were loyal to his father, Yusuf, amid threats from other factional groups.

Al-Barnawi sustained vicious attacks especially on military facilities and troops in the Lake Chad region, plotted on how to subdue Shekau, controlled large swathes of territory in Northern Borno, imposed taxes on the local population and earned income from fishing asides from the financial and material support he got from ISIS.

He also established many cells on the Lake Chad islands and surrounding villages from where his fighters launched attacks on Nigeria, Niger and Chad. The late ISWAP was also the person who confirmed Shekau’s death in an audiotape that went viral months ago.

Spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu revealed that the terrorists were killed along Damboa-Bulabulin-Maiduguri road on Wednesday, August 31.

Troops recovered four AK 47 rifles and four Magazines, each loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition from the troops.

In another operation, troops of 195 Battalion, Sector 1 OPHK in conjunction with elements of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) at Dusman-Muna Garage, Borno State eliminated two ISWAP terrorists in an ambush operation conducted along with an identified ISWAP terrorists’ crossing point at Musari village.

An ISWAP logistics vehicle conveying assorted goods and contraband items belonging to members of the terrorist group, was seized and destroyed.

The statement released on Thursday September 2 added “Items recovered from the terrorists’ vehicle include two bags of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), two bags of detergent, 120 packets of mosquito coils, l2 mosquito nets, and five textile materials. Other items recovered are two bicycles, two bags of beans, a bag of corn, and some quantity of fish.”

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has commended the troops for their operational exploits and urged them to maintain the aggressive posture in order to decisively root out the terrorists from their enclaves.

In a similar development, troops of Forward Operational Base (FOB) operating along Bocobs- Bama road have arrested 20 Boko Haram fighters and their families, who surrendered to troops at Nbewa village, also in Bama Local Government Area of Borno state. The surrendering families of the insurgents comprised 15 adult females and 26 children. The suspects all surrendered to the troops, during clearance operations in the areas on 29 July, 2021 following ongoing intense clearance operations by troops in the general areas.

The children among the surrendering suspects have been vaccinated with polio vaccines, while the adult and female suspects, who have been documented and screened are currently undergoing preliminary investigations.

The children among the surrendering suspects have been vaccinated with polio vaccines, while the adult and female suspects, who have been documented and screened are currently undergoing preliminary investigations.

In a separate operation, troops of 73 Battalion, Forward Operating Base (FOB) in conjunction with combined team of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and Hunters have intercepted a Boko Haram Terrorists Logisitics Supplier during a fighting patrol along Molai – Damboa Road. On being alerted, the combined team swiftly mobilised and stormed the location, where they arrested the suspect, while he was perfecting plans to deliver logistics to the insurgents in the forest.

Items recovered from the suspect include a vehicle, 4 jerry cans of 30 Litres of PMS, one 4 Litre gallon of engine oil, one motorcycle pump, one oil treatment, one torch light, one mosquito net, two praying mats, two blankets, four Spanners, 10 packets of 1.5v battery and three dozens of diamond rubber solution. Others are five packets of candies, five packets of seasoning and measures of other food stuff.

Zainab who is the wife Alai Usman, a high profile ISWAP Province logistics supplier is believed to be in contact with other high profile Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders and also recruiting young fighters for the insurgents.

In a statement released by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator Col. Aminu Iliyasu on Sunday, January 26, it was gathered that Zainab was arrested at Modu Sulemri area of Abujan Talakawa Ward of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

The statement reads “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was born in Niger Republic, grew up in Sudan and has been in Nigeria for the past 15 years. However, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a spy for ISWAP criminals on a mission to spy on troops’ location in Auno and other locations along the Maiduguri – Damaturu road”.