Following the recent attacks on communities and military formations by suspected terrorist groups in the Nigerian northeast region, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. General Ibrahim Attahiru has reposion the army and renamed operation meant for fighting insurgency in the region.
It can be recalled that this medium, had reported that about 20 attacks were carried out by the terrorist groups within April alone, killing civilians and security personnel as well as destroying properties worth billions. They also engaged in recruitment process and stealing of weapons and food items during these attacks.
Mohammed Yerima, Director Army Public Relations, who disclosed the renaming of the operation in a statement on Friday, said the new code is in line with the vision of the COAS, of having a Nigerian Army that is Repositioned to Professionally Defeat all Adversaries in a Joint Environment.
”Also affected by the re-designation are the Army Super Camps which now reflect the nomenclature of the formations and units followed by the name of the locations they occupy while sub-units are redesigned as Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) followed by the name of their locations. All these changes are with immediate effect.
”The renaming is in line with the COAS Vision of having “A Nigerian Army that is Repositioned to Professionally Defeat all Adversaries in a Joint Environment”. It is the believe of the COAS that the complete defeat of insurgency is a process that requires the participation of the entire nation using all elements of national power. He further assured that the NA under his leadership will continue to pursue the path of jointness in prosecuting the counterinsurgency war,” Yerima said.
Operation Lafia Dole (OPLD), the former operational slogan for the fight against insurgency in the region is renamed now as Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
According to the COAS, the approval of the new code name was premised on the fact that the Nigerian Army has made a lot of progress over the years and is in order to re-align for better efficiency to end the insurgency.
OPLD was launched by the former COAS, Lieutenant Gen. Tukur Buratai on 19 July 2019, which replaces Operation Zaman Lafiya, also founded in 2015.
Similarly, the COAS had on Sunday last week said ‘enough is enough’ when he was reacting on the latest insurgents attack on the military base stationed in Mainok, a village under Konduga local government area of Borno State.
He stated that the Army has been winning the war against the insurgents, and it will only consolidate on these successess for total annihilation of terrorists, adding that they will provide the needed resources to execute the war to a logical conclusion.
Also at 7 division Maimalari Cantonment, in Maiduguri, the capital of the most affected state, Borno, on Thursday, the army chief has engaged battlefield commanders of the various theatre operations in a closed door meeting for hours.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, the army chief said the essence of his visit is to reassure the troops that President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of their doggedness in battlefield and asure them to provide the needed resources to execute the war to a logical conclusion.
”We have defeated Boko Haram severally, if for one time they came and we loose certain equipment even though we are never defeated, I assure you that we will overcome notwithstanding what ever had happened.
”We will deal with Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the entire operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,’ the army chief said.
