Terrorism, others to end this year in Northeast – Theatre Commander
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa has said that insurgency, kidnappings and other crimes are to end this year in the Northeast region.
Already, over 50,800 Boko Haram repentant terrorists and their families have surrendered to the Nigerian Army in Borno and Yobe states.
Musa, disclosed this at the weekend (Friday), in an interactive session with journalists in Maiduguri, while reeling out the adopted strategies to end the war that claimed many life and property in the region.
He reeled out pictorial evidence of a professional military fight against terrorism, with the neutralization of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists this year.
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“Our approach of professionalism to end this war is yielding results of completion for peace,” he declared, adding that the narratives are fast changing to the excitements of security agencies to end the 13-year war in the six affected states.
Assuring the end of the war, he said that the morale of officers and soldiers have been raised to meet the deadline of war in Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe states.
Musa maintained that the Army and its Air and Maritime Components alongside other security agencies charged with the responsibility of prosecuting the war in the Northeast; will continue to synergize in unison.
Warning that the troops should not relent; until all the nooks and crannies of the theatre of war are cleared of terrorists and kidnappers.
Speaking on repentant terrorists’ profiling, he said that their profiling is being carried and none of them is being released into their communities.
“We identify the fighters whenever they surrender and separate them before presenting to different camps,” he said.
He assured that none of the combatants will be released for now until the Federal Government takes the final decision on their respective statuses.
According to him, the death of Abubakar Shekau, the Boko Haram leader, led to serious infight and struggles for new leadership of terrorism.
He further disclosed that the ISWAP group with the aid of foreign mercenaries wanted to coerce the Shekau’s people to join them.
He noted that their ideology, aims and objectives, were, however, different and this led to infighting that spread into the forest and the Lake Chad region.
The Theatre Command Intelligence Coordinator, Col. Obinna Azuikpe, added that there were 81 attacks of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the first quarter of this year.
“Our troops and other security forces were able to confront the insurgents in the hideouts of forest and Lake Chad region,” he said.
He noted that the terrorists took advantage of the failed portion of the reopened 138-kilometre Maiduguri/Dikwa/Gambouru road to plant IEDs, killing ten soldiers this year.
Col Azuikpe added that troops under Operation Desert Sanity conducted 9,163 patrols, 5,553 ambushes and 1,006 clearance operations. He said a total of 126 Boko Haram and ISWAP were neutralised in recent operations. the TC said the welfare of troops will continue to receive due attention. He said the Army is implementing new measures on troops rotation.
According to him; “What we’re seeing with regards to the success stories; if we continue the way we’re doing now, God willing, this year, we will put this (war) to an end.”
The Intelligence Coordinator reiterated that The Chief of Army Staff is doing well, including the President, Minister of Defense, the Chief of Defense Staff and other Service Chiefs are supporting Lt-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, the CoAS.
