Boko Haram: Army deploys new commanders to North East

The Nigerian Army is set to deploy a new set of commanders to its various operations in the north east to join in the counter insurgency war.

The new deployment is against the backdrop of the graduation of 33 officers with the ranks of Colonels and Lieutenant- Colonels from the Army War College, in Abuja.

Also, more than 200 female soldiers are being trained in counter-terrorism operations at the Army School of Infantry, as part of efforts to tackle security challenges in the country.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of junior officers Course 84, at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji in Kaduna State.

After being trained, the female soldiers will be deployed to the North East and other troubled parts of the country; to tackle existing and emerging security challenges.

At the graduation ceremony, General Buratai told army officers that much is expected from them in terms of keeping the country together and tackling security challenges, especially the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North East.

Also, deployment of the new commanders, Daily Sun gathered, is expected to change the tactics of the counter-insurgency war and determine its success in the coming year.

The graduates, who are the first batch of officers to pass out of the newly-established college, received training on Operational Art, Campaign Planning, Basic Military Strategic Skill and Management of War.

In his address at the graduation ceremony, College Commandant, Major-General A. G Okunola, who said the college was established to produce well-trained, educated and inspired operational level leaders for the army, noted that the participants underwent a 26, weeks of rigorous academic grooming.

Earlier, Buratai also urged the officers to always abide by the Rules of Engagement during any military operation and tackle every challenge with courage, conviction and in the most professional manner.
He said: “As you are aware, the objective of the college is to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers of the Armed Forces in order to prepare them for increasing responsibilities both in staff and command appointments.

“It, therefore, follows that it is not every officer within your category that would have the opportunity of being nominated for this course. Thus, I consider you privileged to have been nominated for this course by your respective services, organisations and countries. Most importantly, for having successfully completed the course, I say congratulations.

“You will be held to these standards not just as ambassadors of the Armed Forces but also as products of this prestigious institution of professional military education. You must, therefore, carry along these values and virtues wherever you find yourselves. As you may know, once the Commandant graciously confers on you the symbol ‘pjsc,’ you cease having any excuse for not performing your duties as required.”

In the last 23 weeks, the officers, who were drawn from military, paramilitary organisations and some African countries, were thoroughly subjected to various demanding tasks and exposed to presentations, lectures, discussions, exercises and even tours outside the college.

The objective of the course was to develop their professional knowledge and understanding, preparing them for increasing responsibilities both in staff and command appointments.