Army chief visits Borno to assess counter-terrorism operation

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has said his visit to the headquarters of the military Joint Task Force Northeast Operation, Hadin Kai, was to assess the outlook of the counter-terrorism operation in the area.

Gen Shaibu disclosed this in a brief interview with journalists in Maiduguri yesterday during his visit to the theatre.

“My visit is basically to see the theatre, do an assessment and see how we can enhance their operational outlook,” he said.

The COAS was received by the Operation Hadin Kai Theatre Commander, Maj Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar. He immediately went into nearly four hours close-door meeting with operational commanders and principal staff officers of the theatre where he received briefings on the ongoing operation against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP).

He later held another brief meeting with the Theatre Commander before departing the operation headquarters.

The visit came a day after the army buried some officers and soldiers killed in separate terrorist attacks in Borno State.

The Theatre Commander, Gen Abubakar paid tribute to the fallen heroes for sacrificing their life for the peace of the land.

“In the profession of arms, there are moments of victory that fill us with pride and affirm the strength, courage and unity that define our service. Yet there are also solemn moments that weigh heavily on our hearts and remind us of the true cost of service, as we have witnessed today,” he said at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri on Friday.

Boko Haram and ISWAP launched coordinated attacks on four Borno towns including Jakana, Mainok, Konduga and Marte between Thursday night and early Friday. The attack came two days after some terrorists raided and seized Ngoshe, a hilly town located in the southeastern part of the state.