Theater Commander preaches peace, unity, with Borno Journalists

The Theater Commander, Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Chris G. Musa has reaffirmed the Nigerian military determination and commitment to end the war against boko Haram insurgency and restore permanent peace in the region.

He also disclosed that the theater has introduced a new strategic and operational measures, tagged ,”Operation Desert Sanity” and “Operation Lake Sanity”, fully adopted purposely and deliberately to clear the desert Sahara off Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and ISWAP members in the axis including the Lake Chad Basin fringes and off shores along the Lake.

General Musa who disclosed this today Friday during n interactive session and media parley with journalists in Maiduguri hd at the Conference Hall of the Theater Command Headquarters, Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri also said the troops have recorded lots of achievements from July 2021 to March,2022 where over 50,000 insurgents have surrendered and 20,000 victims who are civilians comprising of mostly women, youths and children on the BHTs captivity have been rescued by the troops.

He added that despite operational challenges and obstacles , professionally, the officers and men are ever ready, capable, energetic and committed to end the war this year 2022. Troops have been deployed to various military formations and presently carrying operations across the trainangle of the Sambisa forest which surrounds areas like Alagarnu, Timbuktu, Damboa, Maiduguri, Tumbuk off shores aming others.

According to him, the current operational activities with the employment of the new techniques and strategies were successful and results oriented as hundreds of thousands of the insurgents and ISWAP members were arrested, killed and interrogated which has given room to the present high rate of voluntary surrender and emerging peace being enjoyed by the people which is the mandate of the military to restore peace in the north east

He further assured that the troops of the theater will continue to establish good and cordial relationship with the immediate communities and other organizations including all the Stakeholders and governments towards promoting civil military relationship.

The Theater Commander however appreciated the media in the region the role they have played in professionally covering all military activities in the north east objectively while urging the journalists to maintain the tempo.

He also recognized and commended the efforts, support , cooperation and sacrifices of other security agencies in the fight which, he said,”, without the joint efforts and collaboration of other security agencies and media, we couldn’t have achieved what we achieved today “.

General Chris noted further that the theater Command is making concerted effort to partner with the NGOs, Governments, Organizations and all relevant authorities to ensure and enhance disarmament, deradicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration of the women, youths and children that surrendered voluntarily or have been rescued by the military during various operations across the Sambisa forest

He also promised to maintain the tempo on holding regular interactive session with the Maiduguri based journalists to acquaint them with happenings within the theater Command operations and possible challenges as well how the theater Command has been battling and struggling to address civil military issues and welfare of the troops

The Theater Commander revealed that he has established rules of the game in welfare of the troops where postings should not be more than two years and deployment should not exceed three months for any soldier to get pass or leave of absence from his or duty post in addition to the COAS Welfare Flight for those on pass or leave from their duty posts

He added infighting between the earring groups of Shekau’s BHTs group and ISWAP members over leadership tussles and betrayals and sabotages among them further compelled some of members to voluntarily surrendered and drastically reducing thier numbers including weapons and hide outs as part of the security situation.

The Chairman, Correspondents Chapel of NUJ Maiduguri, Haruna Dauda Biu thanked the Theater Commander, JTF Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Chris G Musa for his cooperation and understanding with the media since his assumption of office while appreciating the efforts, sacrifices and bravery of the Frontline troops.

He also urged the Theater Commander to continue to parley with the working journalists covering the theater and military activities to rub minds and discuss issues bordering each other’s operations in the interest of peace, unity stability and integrity if the nation.

Haruna further assured the theater Commander that the working journalists will continue to be professionals and professionally carry out their reportage objectively in the overall interest of the nation.