Defence, Army, other service chiefs in Maiduguri towards ending Boko Haram, other terrorist activities in Nigeria

*Gov calls for aggressive collaboration with Chad, Cameroon, Niger

*Wants cooperation between Army, Air Force in fields of war

*Irabor pledges operational boost for complete flush out of insurgents

The new chiefs of the Nigerian Armed Forces have visited Maiduguri, Borno State capital on an operational mission during which they paid courtesy calls on the Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-kanemi, to seek their support in ending the insurgency, and went from their to the Headquarters, Command and Control Centre of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

Governor Zulum, while addressing the service chiefs, called for aggressive collaboration with armed forces in neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

He also sought enhanced ties between the military and civilian population to bridge trust deficit and increase military’s access to credible intelligence gathering which, he said, was key to success in the fight against insurgency.

The Governor assured the military chiefs of his administration’s commitment and support to the armed forces by way of supplementing their efforts in the ongoing war.

Zulum also urged the service chiefs to tolerate fair and constructive criticisms that might be made in good faith to enhance their productivity.

His words: “In democratic settings, the military is an establishment which is subject to constructive criticisms by well-meaning citizens. Therefore, you are expected to accept such criticisms in good faith with a view to enhancing the productivity in your operations,” Zulum said.

Governor Zulum noted that, for the Nigerian military to achieve success, there should be robust coordination and collaboration between different security operatives, particularly between the Nigerian Army and Airforce.

The Governor also called on the military to ensure a continued and sustained operations to deny insurgents breathing space by blocking all routes to avoid terrorist moving from one region to another.

Leading the delegation, Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor assured that military operations will receive a boost in order to nip out the insurgents completely.

He, however, craved the understanding of the civilian population in the fight against terrorism.

All the four service chiefs namely the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Lucky E. O. Irabor, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao.

Their visit, on Sunday 31 January 2021, to the theatre of the war against Boko Haram came three days after Thursday January 28 meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari with them in State House Abuja and it was the first time the new Service Chiefs were visiting Maiduguri since their appointment, which also served as the first operational mission aimed at better prosecuting the war against the insurgents.

Major General Lucky Irabor and Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, now CDS and COAS respectively, are not new to the operations within the theatre as they have previously served as Theatre Commanders of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Maiduguri.

At the meeting in Abuja, President Buhari had charged the military chiefs to be patriotic and serve the country well.

His words: “We’re in a state of emergency. Be patriotic, serve the country well, as your loyalty is to the country.”

The President congratulated the Service Chiefs on heading their various services, adding: “There’s nothing I can tell you about the service because you are in it. I was also in it, and I will pray for you. I also assure you that whatever I can do as Commander-in-Chief will be done, so that the people will appreciate your efforts.

“You know the stage we were in 2015, you know the stage we are now, and the undertakings we made. We promised to secure the country, revive the economy, and fight corruption. None has been easy, but we have certainly made progress.”

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari also charged the service chiefs to be concerned about the morale of their officers and men, saying they should be made to feel physically and professionally secure.

He pledged that government would do its best in terms of equipment and logistics.