Army Nostalgically Recalls Moment Buhari Received Boko Haram Flag Captured From Sambisa’s Camp Zairo

The Nigerian Army has revisited a symbolic moment in the nation’s fight against insurgency, recalling the presentation of a Boko Haram flag to former President Muhammadu Buhari by the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd).

The flag, seized from Camp Zairo one of Boko Haram’s largest and most fortified strongholds deep within the Sambisa Forest was handed to Buhari after troops overran the enclave during a major offensive.

Camp Zairo had long served as the strategic headquarters and operational nerve centre of the insurgent group, making its fall a pivotal achievement for the Nigerian military.

According to military authorities, the retrieval of the flag represented more than a battlefield success; it was a powerful symbol of the degrading capacity of the terrorists and a reinforcement of the government’s commitment to restoring peace in the North-East.

Troops in the Operation Lafiya Dole theatre had launched a coordinated assault on the camp, navigating difficult terrain and dismantling layers of defence built by the insurgents.

The operation culminated in the recapture of Camp Zairo, which had been considered Boko Haram’s most resilient fortress.

The Army noted that presenting the captured flag to President Buhari underscored the resilience, sacrifice, and determination of Nigeria’s armed forces in reclaiming territories once controlled by insurgents.

The event marked a milestone in the long-running counterinsurgency campaign and served as a morale booster for troops on the frontlines.

Military officials say the moment remains a reminder of how far the country has come in its efforts to neutralize Boko Haram’s operational capabilities, even as new security challenges continue to evolve across the region.