Nigeria launches offensive on Boko Haram hideouts

Nigerian government forces have commenced mop up operations to weed out Boko Haram from Sambisa forest, a camp known as one of the militant group's major hideouts in Borno state, defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said on Thursday.

According to the spokesman, the government forces have gained control of the camp, smoking the terrorists out of their hideout. The operation commenced on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ground troops, with support from air strikes, have intensified their attacks on the terrorist's den, Olukolade told reporters in the capital Abuja.

He said aggressive patrols, mopping up, as well as cordon and search were also continuing in other locations in search for weapons and terrorists.

The Nigerian defence headquarters on Wednesday announced that its soldiers had killed notorious terrorist commander Abu Mojahid in Borno state where the headquarters of the terror group is located.