Service Chiefs now to spend more operational time in Maiduguri – DDI
The Service Chiefs of the Nigerian Armed Forces will henceforth to spend “more operational time” at the Military Command and Control Centre in Maiduguri, Borno State in line with the directive of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The Director Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, made the announcement on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
Enenche was responding to a question posed by newsmen at a briefing held at the end of a four-hour meeting the Service Chiefs held with the Theatre Commander.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Also in attendance was a representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, and Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Theatre Commander.
Last week Thursday, following the kidnap of staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the University of Maiduguri on oil exploration mission to Borno State, Osinbajo ordered the Service Chiefs to move to Maiduguri.
Enenche explained that the Service Chiefs had reviewed the “strategic direction and plans” as directed.
He said the move was expected to give “impetus’’ to the efforts of the operations of the military in the North East.
Eneche said: “Consequently, the Defence headquarters hereby appeal to the people in the areas affected directly by acts of terrorism and criminality to come forward with credible information that will assist the security and response agencies tackle this menace.”
He listed specific information required by the security agencies to include terrorists’ sleeper cell locations, terrorists’ concentration areas and outpost locations, collaborators and informants to terrorists.
According to Enenche, other information included suspicious habitations and living quarters of the terrorists within rural and urban centres, suspicious isolated settlements and camps outside normal living areas.
