Nigeria to intensify fight against Boko Haram: President

Abuja, Aug 21 (IANS) Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said his government will work to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight against terror group Boko Haram, which is attempting attacks on soft targets.

Buhari, in his first official broadcast to the nation since returning from a 104-day medical vacation in London, urged security agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months in the fight against Boko Haram be a sign to relax, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that we can live in peace and safety," said the 74-year-old retired Army General and former head of the military government.

Nigeria last Tuesday launched a military force to enhance the security network against Boko Haram, particularly in the northeast region.

Named "special mobile strike force", the troops deployed from various military units are expected to bring vigour into the renewed onslaught against Boko Haram, which has killed more than 20,000 and displaced 2.3 million people in its attacks since 2009.

The special military team became necessary as one of the new approaches evolved by the military to end acts of terrorism in the West African country, an official said.

Soldiers deployed to the force were exposed to modern terrorism combat techniques to enable them to crush the Boko Haram fighters, deny them freedom of action and finally decimate them.

The Nigerian troops in the past two months intensified the campaign against the terrorists, killing and arresting dozens of Boko Haram fighters. A bomb factory in Borno state was also destroyed.

The President flew out of Nigeria on May 7 on medical vacation and got a rousing welcome upon his arrival in Abuja on Saturday.