There were strong indications, yesterday, that the massive troop deployment, intelligence sharing between Nigeria and neighbouring countries along with the support from Britain, France and the United States were yielding positive results as information made available to Sunday Vanguard suggested that the military was closing-in on the abductors of school girls from Chibok, Borno State.
It was learnt that the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, on April 14, may be rescued soon.
In an exclusive chat with Sunday Vanguard, last night, the Co-ordinator, National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, disclosed that the efforts of officers and men of Nigeria’s defence forces as well as the police and the Department of State Service, DSS, were paying off.
“We have made significant progress”, he said.
Pressed further, Omeri, who is also the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, said, “The very nature of the sensitivity of what we are doing demands that we provide information only on a need to know basis. That is why some of the posers you have raised, I would not be able to yield”.
However reminded that the parents of the abducted girls have been waiting for all of 40days and hoping against hope, Omeri hinted, “By God’s grace, we are looking at a matter of days”.
The Coordinator, National Information Centre went on: “We are already winning the war against terror because when you look at the activities of our defence forces, including the police and the DSS, especially the number of attempted bombings that have been thwarted, you will agree with me that we are winning the war.
“The total attention and focus of the military on this war gives the confidence that by the time this chapter in this war is over, Nigerians would be pleasantly surprised and happy.
“Already, our troops are smoking the terrorists out of their hiding places.
“For instance, one of their hideouts in Darazo, Bauchi State, has been bombed repeatedly and they are now on the run.
“The support we are also receiving from our foreign partners has upped the tempo and we are confident that soon, very soon, the parents would have their children back and, by God’s grace, in safe and sound health.
“We are closing-in on them. But there is a limit to what I can volunteer”.