The Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru has said that operations in the theatre are being intensified and replicated to end insurgency, banditry and other criminal acts. According to him, this will give a final knock to Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other criminal activities across the country. Attahiru disclosed this Saturday in Maiduguri, while fielding questions from reporters, while on an appraisal visit to the theatre, following recent terrorists’ attacks on New Marte and Dikwa in Borno state.
Residents of Marte, which were returned last month from IDP camps by Governor Babagana Zulu of Borno state; have fled and are currently taking refuge in Dikwa town. “There is the need for us to come here to the theatre command and make appraisals on the ongoing counter-insurgency and terrorism operations in northeast,” he said. He noted that there is also the need to encourage troops rave up their morale for subsequent successes being expected from the people.
While announcing second of operations yesterday, he said: “We can rightly say, we can get into the second phase of the operations which will start soon. “Like you know that areas of Enjimia, Sahulhuda and the entire areas where Boko Haram had deployed before now has been cleared by our troops.” On the recent attacks, he said: “Absolutely, in the theatre when other areas were making major successes; the adversary want to distract you.
“This is an example what you heard in the New Marte and Dikwa recent attacks on communities and our battalions.” He said the troops are also giving good account of themselves and took on the terrorists decisively. On second phase of operations, he said: “We’ll also encourage them and bring in more combat multipliers; and that is exactly what you continue to have all through the theatre. “At this juncture, let me also assure Nigerians that what we are doing at the theatre; will be replicated across other theatres in the country.”
