The need to review strategies used in the ongoing war against insurgency in Nigeria has made the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika hold a meeting with top army commanders across the country.
Disclosing this yesterday at the monthly press briefing where activities of the Army for the period under review were made known to the members of the public, especially since it took over the war against the Boko Haram terrorists in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru said: “As part of routine review the Chief of Army Staff, Ihejirika has just concluded a meeting with top military commanders from all major formations of the Nigeria Army.
“The purpose of the meeting was to reappraise the counter terrorism and counter insurgency efforts in the North East with a view to making future plans,” the Army spokesman disclosed.
“It is worthy of note that our operations in the North East have continued to disrupt terrorist activities thereby denying them freedom of action. In the last few weeks, there were incidences of Boko Haram terrorists unprovoked, malicious attack and wanton destruction of lives and property in Benisheikh, Buni-Yadi and Gujba”, he stated.
Attahiru also said that the Nigeria Army had since commenced offensive operations aimed at apprehending the insurgents involved in these dastardly acts, adding that “several insurgents’ camps have been effectively neutralized”.
The army spokesman recalled the circumstance that led to the emergence of the 7 Division of the Army in Maiduguri and went further to justify the essence, while commending the operations that are being carried out by the Division.
“A recent strategic review of the operations in the North East raised the need to insert a division of the Nigerian Army into the operational theatre.
“Thus 7 Division Nigerian Army became operational on 22 August, 2013. Aftermath of the transitional phase, the Division continues to conduct counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations with a more agile and robust posture to meet the full spectrum of asymmetric warfare challenges.”
Speaking further, he said, “It is important to note that some elements of the Division are currently carrying out stability operations in most urban centres in the North East. The general security situation however remains fluid”.
