By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS
The Nigerian army insisted late Thursday that it had taken all arrangements to defend Maiduguri, the heavily populated provincial capital of the violence-ridden Borno state, against any attack by Boko Haram militants.
"All facets of security arrangements for the defense of Maiduguri has been upgraded to handle any planned attack or attempt to disrupt the city's prevailing peace," the defense headquarters said in a series of tweets.
Boko Haram militants have already overrun the towns of Dikwa, Gamboru Ngala, Gwoza and Bama in Borno.
Maiduguri, the state's most populous city, appears to be the militants' primary objective.
Borno elders warned earlier Thursday that the militants had "completely surrounded" Maiduguri.
But the military dismissed the suggestion.
"Alarmist report on foreign and online media on Maiduguri is clearly intended to cause panic in the city and the nation," it tweeted.
"This kind of alarmist report is uncalled for in view of the efforts and alertness," said the army. "Citizens are nevertheless enjoined to remain vigilant as they go about their lawful business."
The army also said it is waging aerial and land operation to rout the Boko Haram insurgents from towns believed to have fallen under control in recent weeks.
"Situation in Mubi, Michika, Bazza, Gulak, Gwoza, Bama, Gamboru Ngala and other parts of the northeast is being stabilized as highly coordinated air and land operations are ongoing," the army said.
"The efforts are yielding impressive results in the overall move to rid areas of terrorists," it added.
Both the army and the militants seem locked in a sweeping war of propaganda over which areas of the restive region are under whose control.
The lack of access to the troubled areas makes it almost impossible to make independent conclusions on the situation there.
Boko Haram's elusive leader, Abubakar Shekau, recently declared all territories under the group's control to be part of an "Islamic caliphate" in northern Nigeria.
Since May of last year, all three states – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa – have remained under a state of emergency imposed by the government with the stated aim of curbing the menace posed by Boko Haram.
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