Witness History

West Africa fights back against Boko Haram

Dec 1, 2025
Retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka-Usman, a key figure in Nigeria's military efforts against Boko Haram, shares dramatic insights from his tenure as Director of Public Relations. He recounts the harrowing abduction of the Chibok girls and the emotional moment of raising the Nigerian flag at reclaimed checkpoints. Sani discusses the military's strategic offensive in 2015 to eliminate Boko Haram's threats and the brutal realities uncovered in liberated areas. Despite progress, he warns of the lingering threat posed by Boko Haram factions.
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INSIGHT

Scale And Aim Of The Insurgency

  • Boko Haram grew from a local insurgency into controlling territory the size of Belgium after six years of fighting.
  • The group aimed to establish an Islamic state based on strict Sharia and inflicted mass killings and displacement in northeastern Nigeria.
ANECDOTE

Flag Raising After Liberation

  • Sani Kukasheka-Usman described the emotional moment when soldiers raised the Nigerian flag after liberating a checkpoint.
  • He said many soldiers and civilians shed tears and called the moment unforgettable.
ANECDOTE

Recapturing Boko Haram Strongholds

  • Soldiers recaptured towns including Baga and Gwoza, ending Boko Haram's claim of a state-within-a-state.
  • Sani described celebrations mixed with caution because insurgent remnants still needed to be rooted out.
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