With the military relocating its Command and Control Centre from Abuja to Maiduguri yesterday, the anti-Boko Haram war is for more steam. President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered military chiefs to embark on “no retreat, no surrender” tactics against the insurgents.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, gave a directive for the relocation of the command centre from Abuja to Maiduguri.
The statement said Gen. Minimah acted in compliance with the mandate of President Buhari.
The statement said: “In compliance with the Presidential pronouncement and the Chief of Army Staff’s directive, a reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) for OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA for the fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to Maiduguri, Borno State.
“The team, which is led by a Two-Star General, has already commenced work in earnest and it is comprised of elements of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant Army Headquarters Departments and other combat support components.
“The Centre will serve as a forward command base for the Chief of Army Staff and other Service Chiefs.
”The Centre is essentially an elaboration of an already existing Army Headquarters Command and Control arrangement.
“From now on, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from this centre.
“ I wish to inform you also that its establishment would not create another layer of command structure but would add impetus and renewed vigour to OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA, all aimed at bringing terrorism and insurgency to an end.
“An alternate command centre is also being established in Yola.”
As at press time, it was gathered that the President has ordered military chiefs to mobilize troops for a “no retreat, no surrender” attacks against Boko Haram insurgents.
A top military source said: “The order given to all of us now is no retreat, no surrender until Boko Haram insurgency is suppressed.
“We are set for a long-drawn battle with the insurgents. We are getting into a near total declaration of war against Boko Haram any moment from now. Wherever the insurgents are, we have been directed to smoke them out.
“The President has also told us that his administration will no longer condone desertion of battle fields by troops. This is the new shape of the battle against Boko Haram.”
It was learnt that top military chiefs from Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon might arrive today for strategy session with their Nigerian counterparts on how to curtail the insurgency.
“The meeting is a follow-up to talks between President Buhari and his counterparts in Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon. I think this Abuja session will firm up new approaches to tackle the insurgents,” another source added.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade,
said the Chiefs of Defence Staff and heads of intelligence agencies of the affected countries will hold talks on how to put in place combined operation against terrorism.
The statement said: “A conference of Chiefs of Defence Staff of member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission will tomorrow Tuesday, hold in Abuja.
“The meeting which is to be hosted by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff is to work out the processes for the operationalisation of the strategic directive for the immediate take off of the combined operation of the modified version of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in the campaign against terror in the region.
“The meeting is Preparatory to the Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the LCBC member countries in furtherance of the multilateral discussion on counter terrorism operations in the sub region.
“Military delegation led by the Chiefs of Defence Staff as well as intelligence and security of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad are to participate in the meeting along with Benin Republic.
“The meeting will later brief the Ministers of Defence of the LCBC countries towards subsequent decisions on the immediate take off of the mission.
“The development is sequel to the recent parleys and contacts between Nigeria’s President and his counter-parts in the sub-region in the move to step up the fight against terror.”
Some top military chiefs from Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon are expected in the country today for a strategy meeting to firm up the war.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, gave a directive for the relocation of the command centre from Abuja to Maiduguri.
The statement said Gen. Minimah acted in compliance with the mandate of President Buhari.
The statement said: “In compliance with the Presidential pronouncement and the Chief of Army Staff’s directive, a reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) for OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA for the fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to Maiduguri, Borno State.
“The team, which is led by a Two-Star General, has already commenced work in earnest and it is comprised of elements of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant Army Headquarters Departments and other combat support components.
“The Centre will serve as a forward command base for the Chief of Army Staff and other Service Chiefs.
”The Centre is essentially an elaboration of an already existing Army Headquarters Command and Control arrangement.
“From now on, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from this centre.
“ I wish to inform you also that its establishment would not create another layer of command structure but would add impetus and renewed vigour to OPERATION ZAMAN LAFIYA, all aimed at bringing terrorism and insurgency to an end.
“An alternate command centre is also being established in Yola.”
As at press time, it was gathered that the President has ordered military chiefs to mobilize troops for a “no retreat, no surrender” attacks against Boko Haram insurgents.
A top military source said: “The order given to all of us now is no retreat, no surrender until Boko Haram insurgency is suppressed.
“We are set for a long-drawn battle with the insurgents. We are getting into a near total declaration of war against Boko Haram any moment from now. Wherever the insurgents are, we have been directed to smoke them out.
“The President has also told us that his administration will no longer condone desertion of battle fields by troops. This is the new shape of the battle against Boko Haram.”
It was learnt that top military chiefs from Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon might arrive today for strategy session with their Nigerian counterparts on how to curtail the insurgency.
“The meeting is a follow-up to talks between President Buhari and his counterparts in Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon. I think this Abuja session will firm up new approaches to tackle the insurgents,” another source added.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade,
said the Chiefs of Defence Staff and heads of intelligence agencies of the affected countries will hold talks on how to put in place combined operation against terrorism.
The statement said: “A conference of Chiefs of Defence Staff of member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission will tomorrow Tuesday, hold in Abuja.
“The meeting which is to be hosted by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff is to work out the processes for the operationalisation of the strategic directive for the immediate take off of the combined operation of the modified version of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in the campaign against terror in the region.
“The meeting is Preparatory to the Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the LCBC member countries in furtherance of the multilateral discussion on counter terrorism operations in the sub region.
“Military delegation led by the Chiefs of Defence Staff as well as intelligence and security of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad are to participate in the meeting along with Benin Republic.
“The meeting will later brief the Ministers of Defence of the LCBC countries towards subsequent decisions on the immediate take off of the mission.
“The development is sequel to the recent parleys and contacts between Nigeria’s President and his counter-parts in the sub-region in the move to step up the fight against terror.”
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