World over, Military commanders are sensitive and are more concerned about their troops especially those deployed on special mission like the internal security operations codenamed Joint Task Force Operation FLUSH, Operation RESTORE ORDER or Operation PULO SHIELD.
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World over, Military commanders are sensitive and are more concerned about their troops especially those deployed on special mission like the internal security operations codenamed Joint Task Force Operation FLUSH, Operation RESTORE ORDER or Operation PULO SHIELD.
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Whatever the name given to it, Commanders are deeply concerned about their troop’s capability, professional disposition, force protection, welfare and general conduct. They are worried and to a certain extent are affected by their actions or inactions and commissions or omissions. It is in this context, that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim barely settled down in office when he led the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar and a few Principal Staff Officers from DHQ including the Chief of Training and Operations Maj Gen JO Shoboiki on a Maiden/Operational visit to the JTFs in Borno and Yobe States on Wednesday 12 December,2012 to assess the operational readiness, capability, commitment and general conduct of troops and to get first hand- on the spot brief on JTFs’ operations, achievements and constraints. During the visit, the CDS, on behalf of the President, C-IN-C Federal Republic of Nigeria DR Goodluck Ebele Jonathan thanked all the officers and personnel of the JTFs for the good work they are doing in Borno and Yobe States and urged them to do more. We are all proud of you, I feel it is necessary to come and see you, asses the operations, to rub minds with you and to assure you of our unflinching support…..so, generally, on behalf of all the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, those of us that are not privileged to be here with you, we appreciate you, don’t get tired, continue to do more in the service of you country and we will do all that is necessary within our powers to improve your capability and welfare.
One of the salient points hammered by the CDS in both operations RESTORE ORDER 1 and 111 is the necessity of inters service cooperation and coordination. Inter Agency synergy between and among security agencies is a matter of mutual trust and respect which all security agencies must imbibe and practice. No service can do it alone. There is a feeling that institutional fragmentation and information/ policy non - coordination is the greatest challenge of our security system which all of you here in the field must avoid. You must respect the personnel of other services at all times and this seems to be one advantage of joint operation which you must imbibe and practice - CDS posited. Admiral Ibrahim directed troops of the two JTFs to remain disciplined, committed devoid of any sentiment in the discharge of their duties. “Your duty is to protect all law abiding citizens whether Muslims or Christians and bring an enabling environment for lawful activities to thrive. I must say, you have done well in this regard. You must continue to work within your mandate, act in the most professional way as we will not condone infraction from any one of you”. In his remarks at the occasion, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar commended the troops and charged them to do more. “We appreciate the challenges you are facing; we will give you all the encouragement to help you to discharge your duties effectively. I must say, from what I saw when I first visited Maiduguri and Yobe States there is now profound improvement in the general security situation. I therefore urged you to do more, we will continue to support you and for that reason, I assure you I will deploy additional mobile police men and two brand new helicopters to man and patrol the porous borders in your Area of Operational Responsibilities. We will also give you additional 200 walking talkies for ease of communication. Mohammed Abubakar explained the need for the JTF to conduct its operations in the most professional ways. He reminded the JTFs that those who make arrest are central to a successful prosecution. “To successfully prosecute suspects, there must be convincing evidence”- IGP Mohammed stated.
Earlier, in his remarks during a courtesy visit to the Governors of Borno and Yobe States, the CDS thanked the Governments and good people of the states for their support to the JTFs. While on a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor, Admiral Ibrahim informed the Governor that the JTF has been in the state because of the peculiar security situation, which threatens the state. And in the face of the challenges, the Task Force has recorded appreciable successes in view of the arrests and recovery of arms, ammunition and IED materials. Most importantly is the ability to restore and maintain law and order in the state. In Damaturu, the CDS was received by the Deputy Governor Yobe state, he explained that from newspaper reports, one may think that Yobe is a failed state but on coming here, we saw a different picture, that Yobe is not a failed state, the state is working as people, commercial and government activities are going on smoothly, occasional hitches notwithstanding.
In their separate responses, the Borno State Governor Alhaji Kashim Shettima expressed the appreciation of the government and good people of Borno State to the CDS for the visit. “With economic empowerment programmes, employment drive and poverty eradication measures of the state and fervent prayers, the insurgency problem in the state will soon be overcome…. we are also investing in education, infrastructure, agriculture and are willing to engage the youth so as to stop this madness”. He used the opportunity to distance himself and the Borno State Government from the call for withdrawal of JTF in the state. While, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State used the opportunity of the visit to call on the Federal Government to assist the state in infrastructural development and logistics requirements of the JTF and other security agencies in the state. We are expending so much to security agencies in terms of logistics requirements. We therefore wish to appeal to the federal Government to assist the state. It would be recalled that both Yobe and Borno States have donated over 500 Toyota Hilux vehicles to the JTFs, Police and other security agencies operating in the states.
From the mood of the troops, the general feeling is that the visit is a turning point and a morale booster in the collective efforts of the personnel to ending terrorism particularly in their respective areas of responsibilities. It is a visit that left the visited happy and boosted; it will remain indelible in the history of JTFs and the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Among the dignitaries in the CDS’ entourage included the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters Maj Gen JO Shoboiki, Director of Logistics Real Admiral JA Akinwale, Deputy Director Training and Director Defence Information Brig Gen BY Bukar and Col MM Yarima respectively.
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