Operation Lafiya Dole; Changing Tide

Operation Lafiya Dole; Changing Tide
By Makama Sule

Until recently, paths leading into Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States were littered with ghosts and entrails of lives horridly cut down in the wake of inexplicable gun wars and bloody bomb blasts.

The howl of infants, teenagers, and students, maniacally butchered and gunned to death in their sleep and the sorrowful tenor of their parents’ ceaseless cries mutually resonate a macabre plot of civilisation gone awry.

Borno pulsated with discordant anguish; Yobe resonated with gunshots and bloodlust and Adamawa echoed terrifying shades of strife and bloodbath.

No thanks to mindless violence perpetrated by terrorist sect, Boko Haram, whose bombs and bullets are responsible for the human entrails, carcasses of cars by the roadside, defilement of the provinces’ ancient glory and more worrisomely, the devastation of lives of the citizenry.

There is no gainsaying that life in the northeast took a bad turn since the emergence of the Boko Haram terrorist sect. It is equally noteworthy, however, that life in the region, took a good turn at the emergence of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Since his assumption of office, the COAS has led the Nigerian Army on a decisive battle and epic victory against terrorism.

The COAS, spurred by his flawless understanding of the complexities of the asymmetric war tactics of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, evolved a winning strategy that fosters complimentary roles between the Nigerian military, the paramilitary, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) as well as the civil populace.

However, The evolving nature of asymmetric warfare particularly counter terrorism and counter insurgency in a complex environment requires dynamism to address the challenges of the fluidity of operation.

A means to surmounting the associated challenges is through a change in leadership. This often results in the introduction of new tactics, approach to logistics and fire support that will bring about the desired operational end state in line with the vision of the military strategic leadership.

The Nigerian Army activity in the theatre of Operation LAFIYA DOLE is not short of similar narrative. Series of huge successes have been recorded due to the dynamism of leadership at various times. Operation DEEP PUNCH II offensive is one landmark achievement in the theatre that led to capture of cache of arms, large number of captured and surrendered members of Boko Haram terrorists.

Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, who is new at the helm of affairs in the 7 Division of the army, is bent on changing the tide in order to permanently win the war against terrorism in the country.

Biu who firmly believed that the Boko Haram terrorists have been substantially degraded and are no longer potent, suggest a multi-agency approach in bridging the gaps in the counter insurgency line of operation

He is of the opinion that the remnants of the terrorists are hibernating in pockets within communities scavenging for food, survival kits and other logistics. Their modus operandi is employment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s), both person and vehicular borne on soft targets to scurry media attention.

Undauntedly, Biu was focused on changing the narrative and persistently reiterates at various times to troops to adopt basic military battle tactics of patrols, ambushes and stealth to hunt and neutralise the marauding Boko Haram terrorists.

Consequently, this new tactics is yielding results and the tide is changing. Several offensive operations conducted recently has led to the death of 34 Boko Haram terrorists killed by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the month of June and rescue of 366 persons from Boko Haram enclaves.

Similarly, the clearance operations conducted within 7 Division Area of Responsibility in the same period resulted in the escape and surrendering of over 5,000 IDPs to the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

The IDPs were handed over to the IDP camp officials. Troops cleared Anadawa, Koshebe, Azaya and surrounding villages of Boko Horam. Some Boko Haram terrorists were ambushed at Zida village where 3 AK 47 rifles were recovered.

Evidently from the foregoing, the tide is changing with the new robust leadership posture of General Biu. The troops are reinvigorated, committed and adapting to the new battle craft tactics to canalise and neutralise the terrorists.

The change in tide also have witnessed increase in civil populace mobilization and support. General Bulama Biu interpersonal diplomacy and human relations is the right impetus for ending this crises.

Makama Sule
Maiduguri, Borno State