Army Sustains Counter-insurgency Operations
The Nigerian Army today reiterated the commencement of Operation Last Hold to commemorate the 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) with a view to consolidate on the operational gains made in recent Counter insurgency operations conducted by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, especially in the northern fringes of Borno and the Lake Chad Islands.
The Commander Operation Last Hold, Major General Abba Dikko made the reiteration in a Press Conference with media correspondents in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
Briefing members of the press, General Dikko stated that Operation Last hold, which will span a period of four months will involve the deployment of personnel and equipment to showcase the combat efficiency of the Nigerian Army and finally dovetail into an actual operation to decisively crush Boko Haram insurgents in the general area of the Chad Basin. “The end state of Operation Last Hold is the total defeat of the Boko Haram Terrorists group in northern Borno”, he declared.
The Commander Operation Last hold further stated that the successful conduct of the operations will strategically expedite the restoration of socio-economic activities like fishing, farming and other commercial as well as economic endeavours in the region. While assuring members of the public that Operation Last Hold will improve Civil-Military relations in the region, Gen Dikko noted that projects and activities aimed at assuaging the suffering of the people and facilitate the return of Internally Displaced Persons to their communities will also be executed during the conduct of the operation.
Speaking during the press briefing, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Nigerian Army, Major General Nuhu Angbazo stated that Operation Last Hold is conceptualized to involve Civil – military cooperation activities including sanitation exercise, renovation cum construction of water boreholes, clearing of farmlands for planting during planting season and providing security to civilians during the harvest season. He catalogued other activities to include sensitization, seminars and workshops to build IDPs’ confidence and encourage them to return to their communities, as well as deployment of medical resources to treat and manage health issues that may arise amongst the IDPs. He urged the good people of Borno, the Borno State Government and the Civil Societies to key into the operation to make it a success.
The Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Rogers Nicholas summed up the press briefing by calling on all Heads of Security agencies to be prepared to play their statutory roles in areas that are liberated, as troops clear the insurgents from the region.
Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu
Deputy Director Public Relations
Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole
