As the onslaught against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) continue, Chad’s President Idriss Deby has warned the sect’s factional leader Abubakar Shekau to surrender or risk being killed inside his Dikoa hideout.
Deby issued the warning in a state address to his countrymen shortly after leading his army in an offensive against the terrorists that left about 100 killed.
According to the President who spoke in French, Shekau has the chance to surrender now or risk being smoked out of his hideout in Dikoa and he would be killed the same way some of his commanders were killed.
Following a seven-hour ambush on Chadian troops by the terrorists that left 92 soldiers dead recently, Deby who said he would not accept defeat launched Operation Wrath of Bomo to avenge the death of his men.
Named after the town where the Chadian soldiers were killed, the operation which commenced on Thursday, saw the president leading his armed forces to battle at Kelkoua bank and Magumeri where they fired rockets and 12.5mm rounds ammunition on the criminals.
The troops were said to have also destroyed several BHTs bunkers, recovered cache of arms and arrested a top BHT commander.
At Magumeri, a local government in the northern Borno State, the Chadian troops were alleged to have set free some Nigerian soldiers held captive by terrorists.
According to reports, the Chadian troops have dealt the terrorists massive blow and have advanced into neighbouring countries with a vow to destroy them completely in few days.
Video footages and pictures of the operation which were shared on social media showed corpses of suspected terrorists littering the floor with hundreds of assorted gun lumped together. It also showed a suspect partly covered in blood alleged to be a top Commander who was arrested while fleeing through one of the bunkers.
Hours after the victories of the Chadian armed forces went viral, Shekau released an audio message where he appealed to his fighters to stand firm.
Shekau who spoke in Hausa was translated to have said: “People of Chad, leave us alone, this operation is not approved by the Qur’an. It is not the will of the Prophet Muhammed but if you want to continue, God will help us too because he is bigger than you. To my fighters, take heart. It is I, Abubakar Shekau, your leader.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media have continued to sing the praises of Deby dealing the terrorists massive blows at a time own government was offering them amnesty.
Many likened the Chadian President to late Gaddafi, commending him for leading his men into Nigerian soil to free Nigerian soldiers held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.
However, checks by our Correspondent revealed that troops of the Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) have also sustained their onslaught against the terrorists, smoking out those fleeing from the mangroves border with Chad.
Contacted to ascertain if it was true Deby led his troops on such mission, the spokesman for the MNJTF Colonel Timothy Antigha said: “Clarification on whether President Idriss Deby led his troops in the operation against Boko Haram terrorists can only be made by the Chadian authorities. I do not have any authority to speak on their behalf.
“On the involvement of the MNJTF in the operation; Yes, Sector 2 of the MNJTF is actively involved in the operation. This is the much I can say.”