The Chief of Defense Staff, Maj-Gen. Lucky Irabor has pledged to boost military operations to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.
The over a decade long insurgency has claimed 40,000 lives with property worth $9.2 billion (about N3.42 trillion) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
Irabor made the pledges at the weekend, while visiting Governor Babagana Zulum along with three other Service Chiefs of Army, Air and Navy at the Government House, Maiduguri.
He said: “I on behalf of the Service Chiefs pledged that there would be a new leaf in terms of making sure that our operations receive a boost,” noting that that does not mean that there was no boost earlier.
He believed that the operational objectives have not been achieved and that’s why they are still in the state.
According to him, there must be something that the military should do to achieve the counter-terrorism operations in Northeast, particularly Borno.
Continuing, he added: “The first port of call; as a collective should be this state. That’s because the cries and the emotions, the passions that have attended to security matters within the Northeast.
“The action of our officers and soldiers, airmen and something that we needed to come to give refocus.
“We’ve come to have a detailed brief from the Theatre Commander, as well as the various component commanders; and to see injects to ensure that Boko Haram have been inflicted on the people will come to an end.”
While lamenting incessant attacks, he said: “We’ve not unaware of the inflamed passions over the cause of the several months past and we understand that the reason for those inflamed passions; is because peace has not returned to Borno and the Northeast; including various parts of the nation.
“We can only crave the understanding of the citizens of Borno and the entire northeast to give troops a chance to do what is necessary to have a fresh breath of life and fully engage in socioeconomic activities.”
He also thanked Zulum for the support he has rendered to troops in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the state.
“Sometimes some commentaries may have been harsh; but it’s also understandable given that peace has not returned,” he noted.
He said that stakeholders, including the citizens’ support and understand requirements to conclude military operations in Sambisa Forests, Lake Chad region and Mandara Hills.
He said that peace and security is a collective responsibility of every citizen; as the military is playing a lead role with the engagement of other security agencies.
While congratulating Irabor and Service Chiefs, he said: “General Irabor has served in Borno as the Theatre Commander, and he did well.
“Likewise, Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the Chief of Army Staff has performed credibly during his short stay in Maiduguri. Even though the Chief of Air Staff, Maj-Gen. Isiaka Amao has worked here, I’m wishing you all the best.”
He said in a democratic setting, the military is an establishment which is subject to constructive criticism by citizens.
He therefore urged the military to accept such criticisms in good faith to ensure productivity among officers and troops in the front lines.
On how to end the insurgency, he said: “For us to succeed in defeating the terrorists, there should be effective and robust collaboration, coordination and cooperation between the Nigerian Army and Air Forces.
He said this is to bridge the trust deficit between the civil populations; government and the military is key to stabilizing the nation.
“The military is to cooperate with the civil authorities both at the strategic and tactical levels to restore peace and development nexus,” he said.
He added that effective collaboration with neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon is critical, as the war has taken an international dimension.
Zulum warned that without collaboration, with neighbouring countries fighting the insurgents will be difficult in Nigeria.
He noted that stabilization mechanisms should also be adopted and sustained to restore means of livelihoods of displaced persons in communities.
According to him, the stabilization mechanism comprises reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs with establishment of civil authorities.
On the maritime component of military operations; he said: “The maritime component is key in the fight against insurgents on the shores of Lake Chad.
“Unfortunately; it is a missing link. There is no presence of the maritime component on shores of the lake.
“In the last two years we did all that we could to ensure the establishment of maritime components on shores of the lake; but it proved abortive,” noting that it has to be looked into.
Speaking on sustained military operations, he said: “We do have many military operations. The only situation for us to end this war, is to ensure that there is continued and sustained military operations.
“Otherwise, you announce one operation today, after a month or two; the insurgents will leave a particular part of the state and relocate to another location to launch attacks.”
He said that this is what is happening in the state.
He however assured Irabor and the Service Chiefs that the state government and northeast will do everything humanly possible within limited resources to support the military and other security agencies to restore peace and security.
