President Muhammadu Buhari has canceled his
visit to the Sambisa Forest, the former head
quarter of Boko Haram sect.
Buhari was initially scheduled to declare open
the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship
holding in Sambisa forest on Monday, March 27.
The minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, will
now represent the President at the event, Chief
of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai disclosed this on
Saturday, March 25.
No concrete reason was given for the
cancellation.
Speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri, Buratai said
Sambisa forest was chosen for the event to
consolidate Nigerian Army’s grip on the area.
He said: “We have been in the north-east,
fighting the Boko Haram terrorists, and you
know the significance of the Sambisa forest to
them.
“It used to be one of their centres; in fact, we
suspect that their command and control centre
was located there before its eventual capture.
“We also want the place to be dominated by our
troops and also to get firm control, so that we
will continue to dominate the area.”
The army chief said the championship was part
of the training activities of the Nigerian Army,
aimed at sharpening marksmanship of its
personnel.
“The Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship is
part of the training activities scheduled for 2017.
“It is a championship among the formations of
the Nigerian Army.
“The objective of the event is to sharpen the
marksmanship skills of the army personnel,” he
added.