Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, has raised alarm over the evolving tactics of Boko Haram and the Islamic State in the West African Province, wherein they now engage in ransom-driven kidnappings and rob civilians as they continue with their illicit activities.
Speaking during his visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, to appraise the security situation, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja highlighted that this discovery shows a crucial insight gained by the security services into the new strategies employed by terrorist organisations within the country.
According to a statement published on Friday and attributed to Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has made a commitment to furnish combat Reinforcements in support of the ongoing operations within the region.
It statement reads in parts, ‘The COAS lauded the troops for the operational successes so far achieved. He observed that new trends have been noticed in the activities of the terrorists, adding that they are now reverting to abduction for ransom, pillaging for logistics, and attacking civilians with Improvised Explosive Devices.’
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‘He assured that Combat enablers will be provided to support ongoing operations to further ensure more pronounced stability in the region. We will continue to bring you updates as the COAS continues his operational tour of the North East Theatre of Operations.’
Onyema also noted the Army Chief would also be evaluating the operations by troops of Operation Hadin Kai to secure a peaceful return to the state.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is now in the capital of Borno state on an operational tour, with the objective of appraising the security tactics and reinvigorating the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations conducted by the forces of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI in the North East Theatre of Operations.
‘The Army Chief arrived the theatre Thursday night August 31, 2023, and has been briefed by the Theatre Commander Maj Gen Golden Chibuisi on the current security situation of the North East, ongoing operational activities to clear terrorists from their enclaves in the Lake Chad region and the Mandara mountains as well as the challenges of the outfit,’ the statement said.