THE Federal Government has deployed additional troops in the North-East to intensify the on-going war against members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The troops would help to strengthen the military onslaught against the insurgents and help to stabilise the territories recovered by the Multi National Joint Task Force for the March 28 and April 11 elections, sources on Monday told The PUNCH in Abuja.
Our correspondent learnt that the military authorities would deploy mostly soldiers who were brought back from foreign missions in Darfur, South Sudan and other places to complement the efforts of the troops already engaged in the counter terrorism operation.
A security source, who confided in our correspondent, said it was against military tradition to disclose the number of soldiers on additional deployment to counter terrorism
operation.
The source however said that the number was
“substantial and involves some battalions listed under the Army Headquarters Reserve Battalion.”
He said, “It is true that the Federal Government has authorised the deployment of additional troops in the North-East.
“They are expected to complement what their colleagues are doing on the ground. I think the authorities also want to strengthen the military presence in the recovered territories to put an end to some of the attacks in the area.
“The deployment involves some battalions but nobody knows when they are expected to move.”
The Federal Government had given the indication that it might recall troops involved in foreign missions across the world to enhance the operational efficiency and capacity of the troops in the fight against Boko Haram.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre and Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, said this in Abuja late January during a media briefing.
“There is a need for “troops surge” in operational areas, which may require recalling Nigerian troops from peace mission abroad to enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
An intelligence source close to an office strategic to the operation of the Federal Government in the troubled North-East told our correspondent on Monday that the additional deployment of troops was part of the government’s efforts to stabilise the recovered
communities for the general elections.
The source said that the government had been intensifying efforts to ensure the return of people to their communities before the commencement of the general elections.
Meanwhile, the Defence authorities said that troops had continued their onslaught against the insurgents in Kukawa, Geri and Guijba, all in Borno State, on Sunday.
The Defence authorities said in a tweet posted on the official twitter handle of the Nigerian military that Boko Haram had lost their foothold in the area.
The tweet added that troops had recovered some arms and ammunition in the encounter with the insurgents in some communities in Yobe State.
Source: Punchng.com