Military Launches Programme To End Boko Haram

The Nigeria military has revealed plans on how it will deal with the Boko Haram terrorists group following the recent setbacks in its battle against insurgency, particularly the loss of Mubi and other towns in the North-eastern part of the country.

ThisDay gathered that the Nigerian military has launched “Operation No Mercy” to deal with the Boko Haram terrorists group in the north east. It was further hinted that the military would be more decisive and unsparing in their approach at dealing with the sect in a bid to restore the country’s territorial integrity.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

An intelligence source, who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the military will launch an all-out operation against the insurgents and other criminal elements, including those aiding and abetting them. He said the military recalls how the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, was condemned for his aggressive approach in curbing the terrorists, though it reportedly achieved the desired aimed.

The source also revealed that the continual intervention from the political class, and barrage of criticisms from the Amnesty International as well as other human rights groups have been having negative impact on military operations in its fight against insurgency.

However, the source revealed that with the recent gains made by insurgents in the North-east, the military was launching “Operation No Mercy” to reclaim occupied territories.

“They have already started, meaning that the moment you are being suspected and later confirmed of being a terrorist or their sponsors you are gone. You cannot harbour criminals, terrorists that harm the country and expect the military to spare you,” the source said.

The source added that political solutions and ceasefire could have worked if government was dealing with people who are sensible. He said the government has now come to realise that the military need to do their job because these terrorists don’t understand the language of negotiation.

“They could have allowed Gen. Ihejirika and the military then to do what they had to do and we wouldn’t have been in this situation today. Now what we have is a situation whereby the military is afraid of what the international community will do, what human rights groups championed by Amnesty International will say and the reaction of our political class that has been in the habit of criticising and harassing the armed forces, so-called leaders who will wake up and start criticising the operations for no good reason. The moment we do away with sentiments we will begin to see result,” the source said.

Another senior military officer, who didn’t want to be named, assured of military readiness to wipe out the terrorists who have captured many territories in the North-east, including Vintim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
He dispelled fears that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) may not be relevant in what is likely to be an urban combat with Boko Haram to avoid high collateral damages and civilian casualties should the terrorists use them as human shield.

“Air force will still continue to carry out the operation in conjunction with the ground forces. One thing you should know is that the air force does not just enter into any battle or warfare. There are always coordinates from the ground and in this case, they will be directed to bomb or destroy concentration of terrorists. Again, people say that Boko Haram has captured territories like Mubi. That is not completely true because it is not as if they have occupied every part of the town, even though their presence is being felt,” he said.

Also speaking to ThisDay, a soldier involved in the combat operations in the North-east disclosed how the insurgents used military vehicles and uniforms to deceive the soldiers before suddenly opening fire on them which led to many fatalities.

“They wore military uniforms to camouflage and before you know it they started firing suddenly,” he said. “These people use our military vehicles and uniforms and pass through the checkpoints to deceive us. We have asked the authorities to either maintain a strictly controlled camo or change to an entirely new one but what you have is array of camos being allowed with some using desert, trees, and bomb camo. That is the problem we have had and have been pressing them to stick to one,” the source said.

The military personnel while speaking on the role of the air force in the war against terrorism said: “They (air force) have gone for Alpha Jets and F-7’s. Even though they may not use air power to attack built up areas it would be useful in scaring and picking out the terrorists. Mainly the urban warfare is the work of the striker and counter-terrorist force. We intend to surround the towns but what we have in our hands now is urban warfare. We will cut off the different routes that the terrorists might want to escape from while our strike force take them on inside. We are going to strike them down.”

In a related development, the Nigerian Army on Saturday reportedly released about 125 persons who were suspected of having links with the terrorists group. The decision followed the earlier release of 42 persons who were investigated and found not to have had any links with the sect. The 42 persons were released on Thursday to Governor Kashim Shettima.

The spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Col. Sani Usman, who conducted the handing over of the freed suspects explained that they were intercepted fleeing from the state after attack on Boko Haram strongholds in September 2014.

The military spokesman said the arrest was carried out in Biu on September 23, 2014, and following thorough investigation, the 125 men handed to the governor were found to have no link with Boko Haram.

Usman, however, stated that those who have been investigated and found wanting would be prosecuted in the court of law.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that no fewer than 40 soldiers from the United States arrived Nigeria on November 6, 2014, Thursday, to assist in curbing the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.