NIAMEY (Reuters) - Troops from
Chad and Niger have discovered what appears to be a mass grave outside
the northern Nigerian town of Damasak, liberated from the Islamist
group Boko Haram at the weekend, Niger military sources said on Friday.
The sources said investigations were underway to establish the number
of bodies and that they were awaiting the arrival of Nigerian
authorities to take charge of the operation.
"Niger and Chad's troops have discovered a mass grave at Damasak, which
appears to contain the bodies of Boko Haram's victims," said one of the
military sources, who asked not to be identified.
The dusty streets of Damasak were largely deserted following its
liberation on Saturday, after many inhabitants had fled the Islamists'
four-month rule. Shops and businesses were looted and Boko Haram's
black and white insignia were scrawled on buildings around the town.
The military sources said they had requested Nigeria's military to
occupy the town, which lies close to the border with Niger, but had yet
to receive a response.
"As
far as I know, as of yesterday, the Nigerian army has still not arrived
in the area. We are waiting," said one of the sources.
The regional offensive launched this year by Chad, Niger, Cameroon and
Nigeria comes as Africa's most populous country and biggest economy
prepares to hold presidential elections on March 28.
At the start of this year, Boko Haram controlled around 20 local
government areas, a territory the size of Belgium. With the help of
foreign allies, Nigeria's army said on Tuesday it pushed the rebels out
of all but three districts.
President Goodluck Jonathan has been criticised for not doing enough to
tackle the insurgency. His challenger Muhammadu Buhari has campaigned
on a reputation for toughness gained when he was military ruler of
Nigeria in the 1980s.
WOW WHAT A SUPRISE
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