military in the insurgency infested North-east after indications
emerged that about 8,000 troops are being sent there.
The troops, according to security sources, will form the nucleus of an
army division to be established in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Sunday Vanguardwas made to understand at the weekend that the need to
establish the new army division in the stronghold of the Boko Haram
Islamist group is to firm up the successes recorded by special forces
of the Joint Task Force (JTF) which have reportedly dislodged the
insurgents from the forests and mountains of the North-east.
The move came to light barely 48 hours after the United States (US)
said security efforts were necessary to protect innocent Nigerians,
prevent Boko Haram's acts of violence,capture and prosecute its
leaders.
The US Under Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, who gave the recipe to
ending the insurgency challenge in Nigeria on behalf of her home
government, spoke in Abujaat the opening session of the US-Nigeria
Bi-national Commission's Regional Security Cooperation Working Group
on Thursday.
Also yesterday, the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr
Mike Okiro, advocated the establishment of a civil force to complement
the efforts of security agencies at the grassroots to curb terrorism
and other crimes.
Sunday Vanguardlearnt that the new army division to be domiciled in
Maiduguri is tagged 7th Infantry Division and may have one General
Etnan as the General Officer Commanding (GOC).
The 8,000 troops to be deployed there, according to sources, are made
up of 7,000 troops from army headquarters brigade in Yola, Adamawa
State, the army headquarters brigade (Mongonu) in Maiduguri, the
battalion in Yobe and the army headquarters brigade in Sokoto as well
as theabout 1,000 troops recalled from operations in Mali.
Sunday Vanguardwas told that the new army division will take over
operations of securing the entire North-east and seal off the border
axis between Nigeria and Niger, Chad and Cameroon where intelligence
has shown that terrorists get their training and launch bombing
attacks on Nigeria.
Before the establishment of the division which Sunday Vanguard
gathered was on the recommendation of the Chief of the Army Staff,
Lt. General Oyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika, parts of the Area of
Responsibility (AOR) were under the 1st Infantry Division of the army
in Kaduna, which has Major General Garba Wahab as GOC and 3rd Armoured
Division in Jos which has Major General Awalaas GOC.
Asked about the fate of the Major General Ewansiha led JTF in
Maiduguri, with the establishment of the new division, a source said
the JTF will work hand in hand with the new division, adding, however,
that it (JTF) is aninterim force which most likely will be scaled down
after the first phase (6 months) of the state of emergency had
achieved its objectives.
Meanwhile, Sunday Vanguard gathered, also at the weekend, that the
Nigerian Airforce Strike Group with headquarters in Yola, Adamawa
State, where some attack aircraft of the Tactical Air Command are
stationed, is to be upgraded with the injection of more fighter and
patrol aircraft as well as helicopter gunships.
The upgrade became necessary, according to sources, to provide air
cover and patrols over the vast and dense forestsof the North-east
where Boko Haram insurgents held sway for months, hoisting their
flags, claiming territories and collecting taxes from Nigerians.
Towards this end, it was gathered that the Chief of the Air Staff,
Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, has directed the relocation of some
patrol and surveillance aircraft from the 81 Air Maritime Command in
Benin, and the Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt to Yola. Some
Alpha jets will also leave Kainji for Yola.
The PSC Chairman, Okiro, advocating the establishment of a civil force
to complement the operations of security agencies, yesterday,
believes the force, under the supervision of the police, will curtail
terrorism and other criminal activities at the grassroots.
The former Inspector General of Police (IGP) spoke at the Corporate
Council on Africa in Washington, US. The Corporate Council, which has
on its membership Nigerians in diaspora, had invited him to deliver a
lecture during a round table discussion on civil security in Nigeria.
Citing the civilian JTF in Borno State, he noted that "the positive
impact of the youth civilian volunteer group in Borno State justifies
such reasoning."
Okiro based his belief on the principle of the American Homeland
Security, stressing that the operation of the civil security force
should be in line with Bahama and Sri-Lanka models, which are under
the command of the police.
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