End Boko Haram insurgency, terrorism, outgoing Theatre Commander charges successor

BY AHBDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI

The outgoing Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen.Umaru Hassan has tasked his successor, Maj-Gen. Lucky Irabor to end Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism in the North-East and bring long lasting peace to the region.

Major General Hassan gave the charge on Thursday while handing over the affairs of the theater at the Maimalari Cantonment Theatre Command Conference Hall, Maiduguri.

He said that the duty of the Theatre Commander under Operation Lafiya Dole was to ensure that the military wins the war against Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism and restores peace in the region.

He said : “The incoming Theatre Commander, Maj-Gen. Ibrabor is not new in the theatre of war, as was highlighted by General Abdulsalam. He was the one that set up this headquarters and by the grace of God, he started as the Deputy Theatre Commander and is now Theatre Commander.”

He said that the operation in the last five or six months has been highly successful and acknowledged the efforts of the officers and men, stressing that they should continue and support the incoming theatre commander.

“I personally enjoyed your cooperation and I believe that you will extend same to the incoming Theatre Commander,” said Hassan.

He recounted the high points of the campaign so far to include the dis-lodgement of insurgents from many areas of Borno state, but regretted that there were occasions when the troops and good people of Borno state suffered some losses.

He noted, however, that the military has strategized adequately with the hope that soon, insurgency will become a thing of the past.

While taking over the affairs of the command, the new Theatre Commander, Maj-Gen. Irabor, said that he was privileged to learn a lot from the leadership style of his predecessor.

He call for re-dedication to duties on the part of all the officers and men and support so that insurgency will be brought to an end in the North East.

Irabor, stressed that he will continue from where his predecessor stop, adding that to achieve their goal, members of the general public and the media should fully “support and cooperate” with the military.