Nigerian Troops Liberates Gulak, Others From Boko Haram, Closes In On Abubakar Shekau

                    The military on Friday made further gains in its offensive against the terrorist Boko Haram sect by routing them from Bara, the headquarters of Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State and Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

                   This is coming on the heels of reports that the military is fast closing in on the dreaded leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, whose double had been reported killed twice since the declaration of the States of Emergency in 2013.

                  On the same day, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed confidence that Nigerian troops would sustain the momentum built up in the ongoing full scale operations against the terrorists Boko Haram sect.

                    Aside from Gulak and Bara liberated by the military, other locations also cleared in the course of the

two-day operation against the terrorists in the North-east included Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa.

According to a statement from the military authorities, fierce fighting that preceded the clearing of the towns and other communities resulted in appreciable casualties on the side of the terrorists.

The military said it captured some of the terrorists and recovered thousands of assorted rounds of ammunition as well as vehicles and other equipment including; Anti-Aircraft Guns, General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Grenades, Multi-barrel bombs, Multi-barrel Grenade Launchers, rifles and mortar guns.

Residents of Gulak taking refuge in Yola, the state’s capital went into wild jubilation when news filtered in that their local government had been liberated.

Madagali was among the seven local government areas of the state captured by the Boko Haram insurgents last year but six were liberated by the troops leaving Madagali in the hands of the insurgents until yesterday when it was also liberated.

The residents expressed gratitude to President Jonathan for boosting the morale of the troops during his visits to the state on Thursday adding that the visit had impacted on the fight against the insurgents.

One of the residents, who simply identified himself, Mallam Musa said they got the news of the liberation of Gulak on BBC Hausa news and their men who were still living on mountain tops, who also called to break the good news to them.

Military closes in on Shekau…

Meanwhile, the military is fast closing in on the dreaded leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.

Intelligence sources disclosed to THISDAY that Shekau had been cornered but could not yet be taken out because of the use of captured girls, women and children as shield by him.

A top intelligence source, who doesn't want to give more details because of the sensitive nature of the operation, noted that "Shekau's operational areas had been depleted and the military are ever closer to locating him".

"The military knows where he is but the truth is that he is using some of the captives as shield," the source said.

Meanwhile, Western forces in the lake Chad region are said to have avoided confrontation with the insurgents.

The AFP reported yesterday that Canadian Special Forces participating in military training in southeast Niger, near the border with Nigeria, were ordered to withdraw recently to avoid fighting Boko Haram.

According to the report, the troops had been posted to the town of Diffa, where the government of Niger declared a state of emergency on February 11 following attacks in the region that borders Boko Haram's stronghold in Northeast Nigeria.
The Canadians, it noted, were participating in US-sponsored counter-terrorism training that started on February 16 and due to end on March 9.

The annual programme has 1,300 troops from 19 countries training militaries in five African countries in shooting, movement, communications, and mission planning.

Dominique Tessier from Canada's defense department did not say how many Canadians were at risk of confrontation with Boko Haram, but noted in an email to AFP that "several members" were relocated from Diffa to other areas such as Agadez and Niamey in Niger and N'Djamena in Chad "due to security issues."

"This was seen as a prudent measure given the current security situation in the region," Tessier said, adding the exercise continues.

The Canadian Special Forces also stand ready to provide humanitarian or other assistance, should Ottawa decide to offer help, Tessier said.

President: Troops to sustain push against terrorists…

In a related development, President Jonathan has assured that the military would sustain the push against the terrorists.

Jonathan who spoke while hosting with the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle at the Presidential Villa, Abuja assured that the military would rapidly recover more territories from the sect.

The President noted that the officers and men of the Nigerian Army he met on the frontlines in Borno and Adamawa states on Thursday were in very high spirits, well prepared and determined to successfully complete their operations against Boko Haram.

“We have already recovered much territory and very soon, our troops will clear the terrorists out of other areas not presently under our control’’ the President assured the French Ambassador

Welcoming a congratulatory message from President Francois Hollande to Nigeria for recent successes of its armed forces against Boko Haram, Jonathan restated Nigeria’s appreciation of France’s unwavering support for the country and its neighbours in the fight against terrorism.

Jonathan particularly commended his French counterpart for organising the Paris Summit of Heads of State of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad in May 2014 to foster greater regional cooperation against terrorism and insurgency.

In his remarks, Ambassador Labriolle said that France was confident about the future of Nigeria and its ability to continue playing a huge role in Africa and world affairs.”

The ambassador expressed delight at improved trade and economic ties between Nigeria and France in the last three years, saying over 250 French companies are currently operating in Nigeria.

Source: Thisday

The Okechukwus On-screen couple, Iyke and Florence Okechukwu, talk about their life as a real-life couple plus the joy of their two-year-old marriage How long have you been married? Iyke: We got married in April 2013. How did you meet? Iyke: We attended the same school, University of Lagos. We both studied Theatre Arts, but we were not friends. I knew her because she was the best actress in her set. She was two years ahead of me. She knew all my friends and I knew hers but we did not become friends until we met on the set of Tinsel. Florence: I knew his face because the department was quite small and there was no way you wouldn’t know every student. Did you hit it off as soon as you met on the set of Tinsel? Florence: At the initial stage, what we had was more of a friendship. He became my confidant and I could tell him anything. It had nothing to do with the fact that we play a couple on Tinsel. We were first of all good friends before we thought of dating. Iyke: She was easy to talk to in addition to being smart and intelligent. At a point, I realised she would make a good wife, but I was not bold enough to ask her out. I woke up one morning and realised it would be foolhardy of me to let her go. Florence: I had to help the situation because he was not forthcoming. I told him my mum wanted to pair me with a guy who lived in Switzerland and I might have to leave Tinsel and Nigeria. He ignored what I said and began to talk about something else. I asked if he heard me and said he was too jealous to answer my question. That was how I got him. Did playing a married couple in Tinsel enhance your feelings for each other? Iyke: People always confuse our roles with our real lives. Chuks and Ene are different from Iyke and Florence. We have separate lives. On set, we were actors and off set, we were friends. Were you worried about what your colleagues would think about your love affair? Florence: They had always thought we were an item because we were that close as friends. When we started dating, they did not think too much of it because they could not tell the difference. They mixed it up so much that when we decided to get married, it was like a natural progression. How long did you date for? Iyke: We dated for about two or three years before I popped the question. How were you able to keep your relationship from the press? Iyke: Everybody around us just saw Chuks and Ene. It was easy for us to disguise our relationship. Nobody knew when we started dating or got serious. It hit everybody and surprised them. What qualities do you admire in each other? Iyke: She is a smart person and has a warm heart. You can’t help but love her. Also, she has a brilliant sense of humour. Florence: He is kind, gentle, selfless and a good listener. How did you propose to her? Iyke: When you are about to propose to your girlfriend and she knows what you are about to do, it spoils the fun. She did not see the ring coming, but she knew I was going to buy the ring. The proposal was very informal, I knelt down and she said yes. Did you experience any opposition from any of your families? Iyke: The union was blessed by God before we even thought about getting married. Our families were supportive. I am from Abia State and she is from Imo State. Her family is similar to mine. Florence: I think the fact that we play a couple helped. Even before we started dating, my father-in-law’s friend said Iyke must marry me. When I told my parents about his proposal, they accepted and prayed for us. Is being married to someone in your industry convenient? Iyke: Our industry is just like any other industry. The only difference is that we are in the limelight and everybody knows us. Bankers marry themselves too, but you just have to understand how to manage and separate your professional life from reality. You have to be able to draw the line between work and home, what you will tell people and what you won’t. If you let people into your marriage, they will make it their business. If you can draw that line, you can make it work. Do you get jealous of each other’s fans? Iyke: The friendship we had before we started dating and afterwards helped us build the trust. We can tell ourselves anything. The things I know about her makes me trust her so trust is not an issue between us. Florence: The best checks and balances you can have in your relationship is to tell your husband about all the guys you meet. It censors both of you and makes him feel secure. It is good to be upfront. What are some of the challenges you experienced in your marriage? Iyke: We are blessed because God gave us some knowledge before we started dating. If you are true and sincere to your partner, a lot of things will happen. Some guys cheat because they are not comfortable or do not feel loved. If you believe that you are friends first, you can tell her anything. When you have disagreements, who apologises first? Florence: He apologises first. What are some of the things she does that gets you upset? Iyke: She has stopped quite a few but they are minor things I am able to forgive and we laugh about it. If you had the opportunity to change anything about him, what would it be? Florence: Nothing, he is just right for me. How do you celebrate special days? Iyke: My birthday was three days ago and I was blown away by what she did. She gave me a cake that looked like a clapperboard. She invited family and friends to celebrate with me. How do you spend time as a couple? Iyke: We love to spend time alone in the house. We are more of indoor people. When we go out, we watch movies, hang with friends or go to the beach. Do you operate a joint account? Iyke: We have joint and personal accounts. We know how much we have in our individual accounts. Is your marriage on set different from reality? Florence: I don’t know how it happens but it happens effortlessly when we are on set. We just get into character but notwithstanding; Chuks is totally different from Iyke. What advice will you give to celebrities who are married? Iyke: They should draw that line between their private and professional lives and make it as thick as possible. Publicity is part of our industry and we are in the public eye most of the time. You have to know what to tell the public and what not to. If you do not censor information, you are inviting the public to be a part of your life. Define what you put out on social media. If they do that and rely on each other’s love and trust, it will work.

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The Okechukwus On-screen couple, Iyke and Florence Okechukwu, talk about their life as a real-life couple plus the joy of their two-year-old marriage How long have you been married? Iyke: We got married in April 2013. How did you meet? Iyke: We attended the same school, University of Lagos. We both studied Theatre Arts, but we were not friends. I knew her because she was the best actress in her set. She was two years ahead of me. She knew all my friends and I knew hers but we did not become friends until we met on the set of Tinsel. Florence: I knew his face because the department was quite small and there was no way you wouldn’t know every student. Did you hit it off as soon as you met on the set of Tinsel? Florence: At the initial stage, what we had was more of a friendship. He became my confidant and I could tell him anything. It had nothing to do with the fact that we play a couple on Tinsel. We were first of all good friends before we thought of dating. Iyke: She was easy to talk to in addition to being smart and intelligent. At a point, I realised she would make a good wife, but I was not bold enough to ask her out. I woke up one morning and realised it would be foolhardy of me to let her go. Florence: I had to help the situation because he was not forthcoming. I told him my mum wanted to pair me with a guy who lived in Switzerland and I might have to leave Tinsel and Nigeria. He ignored what I said and began to talk about something else. I asked if he heard me and said he was too jealous to answer my question. That was how I got him. Did playing a married couple in Tinsel enhance your feelings for each other? Iyke: People always confuse our roles with our real lives. Chuks and Ene are different from Iyke and Florence. We have separate lives. On set, we were actors and off set, we were friends. Were you worried about what your colleagues would think about your love affair? Florence: They had always thought we were an item because we were that close as friends. When we started dating, they did not think too much of it because they could not tell the difference. They mixed it up so much that when we decided to get married, it was like a natural progression. How long did you date for? Iyke: We dated for about two or three years before I popped the question. How were you able to keep your relationship from the press? Iyke: Everybody around us just saw Chuks and Ene. It was easy for us to disguise our relationship. Nobody knew when we started dating or got serious. It hit everybody and surprised them. What qualities do you admire in each other? Iyke: She is a smart person and has a warm heart. You can’t help but love her. Also, she has a brilliant sense of humour. Florence: He is kind, gentle, selfless and a good listener. How did you propose to her? Iyke: When you are about to propose to your girlfriend and she knows what you are about to do, it spoils the fun. She did not see the ring coming, but she knew I was going to buy the ring. The proposal was very informal, I knelt down and she said yes. Did you experience any opposition from any of your families? Iyke: The union was blessed by God before we even thought about getting married. Our families were supportive. I am from Abia State and she is from Imo State. Her family is similar to mine. Florence: I think the fact that we play a couple helped. Even before we started dating, my father-in-law’s friend said Iyke must marry me. When I told my parents about his proposal, they accepted and prayed for us. Is being married to someone in your industry convenient? Iyke: Our industry is just like any other industry. The only difference is that we are in the limelight and everybody knows us. Bankers marry themselves too, but you just have to understand how to manage and separate your professional life from reality. You have to be able to draw the line between work and home, what you will tell people and what you won’t. If you let people into your marriage, they will make it their business. If you can draw that line, you can make it work. Do you get jealous of each other’s fans? Iyke: The friendship we had before we started dating and afterwards helped us build the trust. We can tell ourselves anything. The things I know about her makes me trust her so trust is not an issue between us. Florence: The best checks and balances you can have in your relationship is to tell your husband about all the guys you meet. It censors both of you and makes him feel secure. It is good to be upfront. What are some of the challenges you experienced in your marriage? Iyke: We are blessed because God gave us some knowledge before we started dating. If you are true and sincere to your partner, a lot of things will happen. Some guys cheat because they are not comfortable or do not feel loved. If you believe that you are friends first, you can tell her anything. When you have disagreements, who apologises first? Florence: He apologises first. What are some of the things she does that gets you upset? Iyke: She has stopped quite a few but they are minor things I am able to forgive and we laugh about it. If you had the opportunity to change anything about him, what would it be? Florence: Nothing, he is just right for me. How do you celebrate special days? Iyke: My birthday was three days ago and I was blown away by what she did. She gave me a cake that looked like a clapperboard. She invited family and friends to celebrate with me. How do you spend time as a couple? Iyke: We love to spend time alone in the house. We are more of indoor people. When we go out, we watch movies, hang with friends or go to the beach. Do you operate a joint account? Iyke: We have joint and personal accounts. We know how much we have in our individual accounts. Is your marriage on set different from reality? Florence: I don’t know how it happens but it happens effortlessly when we are on set. We just get into character but notwithstanding; Chuks is totally different from Iyke. What advice will you give to celebrities who are married? Iyke: They should draw that line between their private and professional lives and make it as thick as possible. Publicity is part of our industry and we are in the public eye most of the time. You have to know what to tell the public and what not to. If you do not censor information, you are inviting the public to be a part of your life. Define what you put out on social media. If they do that and rely on each other’s love and trust, it will work.

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