Terrorism: Ihejirika meets military commanders

As the North East and soft targets like schools continue to face attacks from the Boko Haram insurgents, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, has met with military commanders to reappraise their counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts
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Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, who disclosed this on Friday at press briefing, however, assured that 7 Division Nigerian Army (NA), which became operational on August 22, 2013 has continued to conduct terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to meet the warfare challenges.
“As apart of routine review, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, has just concluded a meeting with top military commanders from all major formations of the NA.
“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,” he said.
On whether the sect’s kingpin, Shakau, was death or alive, he said investigations were still ongoing to find out the truth.
“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.
“The NA has since commenced operations aimed at apprehending the insurgents involved in these dastardly acts. Several insurgents’ camps have been effectively neutralised,” Attahiru said, even as he denied the insinuations that the NA may not be at the top of the ongoing warfare.
While acknowledging that NA has been working with other security agencies to successfully fight the insurgency, he called on the local communities to always provide information about suspicious movements in their localities.
“Let me appeal to local residents in the affected states to promptly report the presence of insurgents in their localities by contacting the nearest military or police locations,” he said.
As the North East and soft targets like schools continue to face attacks from the Boko Haram insurgents, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, has met with military commanders to reappraise their counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, who disclosed this on Friday at press briefing, however, assured that 7 Division Nigerian Army (NA), which became operational on August 22, 2013 has continued to conduct terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to meet the warfare challenges.
“As apart of routine review, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, has just concluded a meeting with top military commanders from all major formations of the NA.
“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,” he said.
On whether the sect’s kingpin, Shakau, was death or alive, he said investigations were still ongoing to find out the truth.
“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.
“The NA has since commenced operations aimed at apprehending the insurgents involved in these dastardly acts. Several insurgents’ camps have been effectively neutralised,” Attahiru said, even as he denied the insinuations that the NA may not be at the top of the ongoing warfare.
While acknowledging that NA has been working with other security agencies to successfully fight the insurgency, he called on the local communities to always provide information about suspicious movements in their localities.
“Let me appeal to local residents in the affected states to promptly report the presence of insurgents in their localities by contacting the nearest military or police locations,” he said.