Boko Haram: Service Chiefs relocate to Maiduguri; Chart new counter insurgency operational strategy

BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI

In line with Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s directive, that the Service Chiefs should relocate to Maiduguri, Chief of Defense Staff, General Gabriel Olanisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Tukur Buratai and Chief of Air Staff, Marshal Sadique Abubakar have arrived Maiduguri, Tuesday, to re-strategized the counter insurgency operations in the North-east and ensure the return of normalcy in the region.

The security chiefs were received at the Air Force base in Maiduguri by the Military authorities in the state and proceeded to the theatre command, “Operation Lafiya Dole” where they held a meeting for about 4 hours to chart a new counter insurgency operational strategy.

Shortly after the meeting, the Director Defence information Major General John Enenche  who briefed the press said that their arrival was in compliance with the acting President’s directive that they should relocate to Maiduguri.

While addressing the Press at the Military Control and Command Centre in Maiduguri, General Enenche said the arrival of the Service Chiefs in Maiduguri, the epicentre of the Northeast counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations indicates the commencement of command and control operations, from the Military Command and Control Centre, in Maiduguri

He appealed to the general public and the people of Borno state, who are affected directly by the act of terrorism and criminality, to come forward with credible information that will further assist the security and response agencies in tackling the menace.

The Defence spokesman also called on the people of Borno state to provide the army with key information on the following: Terrorists’ sleeper cell locations, Terrorists’ concentration areas and outpost locations, collaborators and informants to the terrorists, suspicious habitations and living quarters within rural and urban centres as well as suspicious isolated settlements and camps outside normal living areas.

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While clarifying the directives of the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo, General Enenche said, the directives mean that, more operational time will be given to the northeast in view of the security demand of the region and does not mean that, the service chiefs are to relocate physically to the region, adding that, it means that the northeast is now a forward headquarters, stressing that the service chiefs are service chiefs for Nigeria and not for the northeast.

Speaking on the 40 days ultimatum given to the theatre command to capture the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, General Enenche said, the directive still stands and whether Shekau is capture within the time frame or not, the military is not going to stop looking for him, and will continue to push until Shekau is captured dead or alive.