Inteligence Report: Boko Haram Base Traced to Mali

The fight against Boko Haram is recording success as the operational base of the Islamic sect has been confirmed to be located in Mali. The National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd) and President Jonathan were in Mali for a secret meeting with the military authorities, following a strong intelligence report which shows that Mali’s northern region is being used as the operational base of the dreaded sect.

Image Credit: News of the World

A reliable diplomatic source revealed that the President's visits was more than just making a stopover in Bamako, the Malian capital as announced by Abati in his statement.

“the Nigerian president actually left Niamey, Niger Republic on Thursday, October 18 and went straight for the main goal of his trip, which is to hold talks with the Malian authorities, as part of efforts to dismantle the main structure of Boko Haram in the North of the country (Mali).”

During the meeting between President Jonathan and Mali’s interim president Traore, was “to stabilize the civilian regime of Traore, mobilize African and ECOWAS forces to Mali, with a view to flushing out all islamist groups and rebels, including Boko Haram leaders that had taken control of North of Mali.” In a separate discussion with Captain Sanogo, President Jonathan was said to have offered him a political asylum in Nigeria to pave the way for Traore’s full control of Mali’s armed forces, which are still loyal to Sanogo. “If the Nigerian government can get Traore relocated to Nigeria, the stability Nigeria needs in Mali to fight its own enemy hiding and operating from our territory would have been achieved half-way,” a diplomatic source privy to the development told Saturday Sun. It was, however, not yet clear at press time whether Traore has accepted the offer of asylum from President Jonathan.

“What is certain is the success of the war against Boko Haram depends largely on the stability in Mali and the ability of the African and the entire international community to dislodge all rebels and Islamist groups operating in northern Mali because if you observe closely, they share the same religious ideology and modus operandi with Boko Haram militants. If you follow developments there, you will notice that the Islamists have imposed a harsh interpretation of Sharia in the areas they control in the north of Mali and there are reports of people being stoned to death and having their limbs amputated,” the source added.

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