Emergency rule: Army assumes full control

Culled from National Mirror

…as JTF hands over responsibilities today

The Nigeria Army has taken full control of the ongoing emergency operations in the North East, the Defence Headquarters DHQ has said.

Effectively, the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the area would today hand over its duties to the Army just as a new division has been created to carry on with the counter- insurgency operations.

Although, the Nigerian Army will now be in charge of the operations, but it will still be under the routine guidance of the DHQ.

“The command of the ongoing internal security operations in the North- East will today enter a new phase as the control of the mission reverts to the Army Headquarters.

“Accordingly, a new Army division has been created and will take off to continue the counterinsurgency operations with immediate effect,” Brig.-Gen.Chris Olukolade, the DHQ spokesman said.

He explained that the development was in line with the “plans laid out for the conduct of the operations to execute the mandate spelt out in the state of emergency declaration by the President and Commander-in- Chief.”

National Mirror recalls that the phase being concluded today was executed by a JTF composed of troops drawn from the Armed Forces and other security agencies who conducted Operation BOYONA.

“Code-named Operation BOYONA, an acronym derived from the names of the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa covered by the state of emergency declaration, the effort was meant to constitute the first phase of the counter- terrorists operation,” he added.

He said a General Officer Commanding, GOC, in the rank of Major General is being proposed to command the new division which will have its headquarters in Maiduguri.

“He is due to take over command and the assets of the headquarters of the Joint Task Force. The new division is to continue with the conduct of counter-terrorists operations in the North-East which comes under its area of responsibility,” Olukolade added.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, has commended the Chief of Army Staff for siting a permanent military unit in Mubi, Adamawa State.

Badeh made the commendation at the weekend at the celebration of life and thanksgiving service of his late mother, Mama Hanatu Satama Badeh, in Vimtim Village, Mubi North Local Government Area.

He said the presence of soldiers in Mubi and environs had played a key role in restoring and sustaining peace and normalcy in the border area.