An advance team for the establishment of military command and control centre to intensify the war against Boko Haram has moved to Maiduguri in compliance with a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The team, comprising elements of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant Army Headquarters Departments and other combat support components, is led by a two-star General.
A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, on Monday, stated that the team had commenced work in earnest.
Buhari had, during his inauguration penultimate Friday, announced that the military command centre would relocate to the Borno State capital to tackle the violent group, whose activities in the North-East had led to the death of more than 15,000 people and displaced millions since it started its violent campaign in 2009.
“The most immediate is Boko Haram insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory cannot be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja.
“The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain there until Boko Haram is completely subdued,’’ Buhari had said.
The Army explained that the centre was an “elaboration” of an existing Army headquarters command and control arrangement, adding that henceforth, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from the centre.
The statement read, “In compliance with the Presidential pronouncement and the Chief of Army Staff’s directive, a reconnaissance and advance team for the establishment of Military Command and Control Centre for Operation Zaman Lafiya for the fight against terrorism and insurgency has moved to Maiduguri, Borno State.
“The team, which is led by a two-star General, has already commenced work in earnest and it comprised elements of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant Army Headquarters Departments and other combat support components. The Centre will serve as a forward command base for the Chief of Army Staff and other Service Chiefs.”
The Army hinted that the centre would not create another layer of command structure, but would add impetus and renewed vigour to Operation Zaman Lafiya, “all aimed at bringing terrorism and insurgency to an end.”
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