Nigeria’s military has commenced a search operation in the northeastern Sambisa forest, where Boko Haram militants are believed to be holding at least some of the more than 200 girls abducted from their boarding school in Chibok town a year ago.

The government of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan “remains resolute in finding and returning them to their homes,” said National Information Centre spokesman Mike Omeri in the capital Abuja.  “Presently, the military is moving into the Sambisa Forest," Omeri added, “Our intelligence indicates that the present military operation is focused in the area where the girls are believed to be held.”

A multinational military push has dislodged Boko Haram from most of their strongholds in Borno State, where the group has for six years tried to carve out a breakaway state based on a twisted version of Islamic sharia law.  But the Sambisa forest, with it hills and reported underground bunkers has proven to be a tougher challenge. 

“Right now, all Boko Haram camps, except Sambisa Forest have been destroyed,” said National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who predicted troops will liberate the forest by 29 May – the day that Goodluck Jonathan hands the executive over to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

“All known Boko Haram camps will be taken out,” said Dasuki.  “They won’t be there.  They will be dismantled.  In addition to the acquisition of more sophisticated armaments and training of our troops in guerrilla warfare the new military co-operation agreed to between Nigeria and its neighbors will prove decisive against Boko Haram.”