More than three weeks after the Nigerian military issued a statement saying it had recaptured Dikwa, a border town in Borno state, from Boko Haram insurgents, www.icirnigeria.org can report that the town is now totally free of insurgents.

According to a military source, following the capture, troops were still stationed there to decimate pockets of insurgents that might still be hiding.

But after three weeks, Dikwa is now said to be totally free.

“When troops first deployed to Dikwa, about 27 days ago, they did not expect to be there for this long but you know Dikwa is a very big town that borders Cameroon and Chad,” the source said.

“The military command was determined to liberate the town completely, so soldiers had to remain there, with food and other supplies coming regularly from Maiduguri.”

The source, who noted that the insurgents resorted to fleeing as a result of the military’s superior firepower, said there was no casualty on the side of the military, although a soldier sustained injuries and is receiving treatment.

He added that there is still heavy presence of military in the ancient town.

“Soldiers are still there pending when the town will be officially declared safe for residents to return. Right now the only civilians there are the Civilian JTF,” the source concluded.