Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month.

"They are getting weaker and weaker by the day," he told the BBC.

But he admitted the security forces had been slow to respond to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria.

Nigeria's army has recently claimed a series of victories over the militants. The violence has killed more than 15,500 people since 2012.

Abducted girls 'alive'
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Will Ross in the capital Abuja, President Jonathan said: "I'm very hopeful that it will not take us more than a month to recover the old territories that hitherto have been in their [Boko Haram's] hands."

Earlier this week, the Nigerian military said the militants no longer controlled any urban centres in Yobe and Adamawa - two out of the three worst-affected states in the north-east.

The military also pledged that Borno state, the birthplace of Boko Haram, would soon be freed.

However, President Jonathan admitted in the interview that the authorities "never expected that they [Boko Haram] would build up that kind of capacity".

He added: "We underestimated their external influence. Since after the civil war we've not fought any war, we don't manufacture weapons, so we had to look for help to re-equip our army and the air force."


Analysis: Will Ross, BBC News, Abuja
President Jonathan may have faced huge criticism at home and abroad for his handling of the insecurity in the north-east but he seems unwilling to concede any mistakes have been made.

Mr Jonathan clearly inherited a military beset by corruption and one which for decades has demonstrated an extraordinary inability to build up a decent array of weaponry - hence the recent scramble for military hardware including helicopters and tanks as well as the involvement of troops from neighbouring countries.

His assessment of the Boko Haram crisis is perhaps a little closer to the mark than the euphoric PR statements that are sent out on behalf of Nigeria's military suggesting this is a won war.

Yes, some jihadists have been killed in battle, he told me, but many have fled - either over the borders or into Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, whilst some he says have melted back into towns.

They may no longer control much territory but the Boko Haram crisis grew too deep to disappear in a hurry.

line
Mr Jonathan said that newly acquired military equipment, as well as co-operation with neighbouring countries, had helped push the jihadists out of towns and villages.

He added that while many militants had poured across the country's borders, he thought some had retreated into a stronghold in north-eastern Nigeria known as the Sambisa Forest.

The president also said he believed the 219 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok by Boko Haram last year were still alive, adding that the authorities continued their search for them.

"I believe we'll get them," the president added.

The interview comes just days before Nigerians are due to vote in presidential elections.

Despite stiff competition from the opposition, Mr Jonathan said: "I'll surely win."

line

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31979524

JONA and SHEKAU are related.They are playing hide and seek game.From No girls are Missing to we knw where they are/they are alive.JONA IS A USELESS PRESIDENT

ain't shit you can do about this enemies

Good to know they are winning the war

Election is yet to hold, Jonathan is already boasting of victory.. Whatever happened to the supposed "subjective spirit" he should always express as a "candidate". Perhaps he feels we are all clueless SMH.

Am happy that they being subdued, but am not happy it took a strong opposition for him to seat up and address the issue. It goes along way to show that our government takes us for granted. They don't care about the people, all they look out for is their own selfish intrest. If the seat of power wasn't at stake, our president wouldn't have done anything.

atlwireles:
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month.

But he admitted the security forces had been slow to respond to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria.

Abducted girls 'alive'

However, President Jonathan admitted in the interview that the authorities "never expected that they [Boko Haram] would build up that kind of capacity".

He added: "We underestimated their external influence. Since after the civil war we've not fought any war, we don't manufacture weapons, so we had to look for help to re-equip our army and the air force."

President Jonathan may have faced huge criticism at home and abroad for his handling of the insecurity in the north-east but he seems unwilling to concede any mistakes have been made.

The president also said he believed the 219 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok by Boko Haram last year were still alive, adding that the authorities continued their search for them.

"I believe we'll get them," the president added.

The interview comes just days before Nigerians are due to vote in presidential elections.

Despite stiff competition from the opposition, Mr Jonathan said: "I'll surely win."

line

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31979524

See highlighted!

(1) He admits the military was slow (considering it took 4 years for them to really act, SLOW is an understatement). He admits that he underestimated them! Yet he refuses to admit that mistakes were made! God!
MR. PRESIDENT your are the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES!! YOU FAILED!! OWN UP! MAN UP! ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!!!

(2) He says[b] he BELIEVES the Chibok girls are alive[/b]! Not based on any military intelligence, just belief. And in fact he even said a few weeks back that he thinks they are alive because BH has not displayed their bodies! How is this man the president of a country?? Just imagine Obama making such callous statements. Nigerians think!

(3) "I'll surely win!" - NO SIR!! You will surely lose! Except you are talking about the LUDO GAME or AYO you will playing with your Otuoke friends in a few months!

BH is being decimated and APC are crying because their youth wing and reliable thugs are being killed

APC chieftains should stop sponsoring terrorists in a country they hope to rule one day

GEJ all the way