A new
division of the Nigerian Army, codenamed 'BOYONA' is to take over control
of the Federal Government’s drive against terrorist group, Boko Haram,
in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
According to the Defense Headquarters, the new division to be headed by a Major General, will, beginning Monday, be based in
Borno, and will take over the duties of the military’s Joint Task
Force.
A statement by the Director of Information, Brig. Gen.Chris
Olukolade, said BOYONA, is an acronym representing the troubled three
states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
The Division will take off as
an effort meant to constitute the first phase of the counter-terrorists
operation, as the new division will continue with counter insurgency
operation immediately.
The development is coming three months into
the FG’s military operation to stamp out terrorism in
the north east, where Boko Haram and splinter groups have continued to
stage deadly attacks.
The military said the creation of BOYONA
is in line with the plans laid out for the conduct of the operations to
execute the mandate spelt out in the State of Emergency declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The phase of the operation being
concluded on Monday was executed by a Joint Task Force composed by
troops drawn from the Services of the Armed Forces as well as other
security agencies who conducted Operation BOYONA,” Olukolade said.
Olukolade also said henceforth, only the Nigerian Army will be solely
in charge of the anti-terrorism operations in the three states, while
the defence headquarters will provide routine guidance. A General
Officer Commanding (GOC), in the rank of Major General is being proposed
to command the new Division which will have its Headquarters in
Maiduguri.
The GOC is due to take over the Command and the assets
of the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force. The new Division is to
continue with the conduct of counter-terrorists operations in the North
East which comes under its area of responsibility.
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