After several years of ‘war’, Nigerian Army reveals new tactics to stifle Boko Haram insurgency

The Nigeria army on Wednesday said Boko Haram insurgency will soon become history.

Brig.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, said the army has initiated new operational measures to end Boko Haram insurgents’ activities.

Ibrahim made the revelation on Wednesday when he visited frontline troops at Moloi on Maiduguri-Damboa Road.

He revealed that the army had initiated new tactics to enhance patrols, denied remnants of the insurgents’ freedom of movement and destroyed their sources of money.

Ibrahim said the new campaign strategy would fortify defensive positions and enhance rapid response in the theater of operation.

“We adopted Super Camp concept where we have stronghold positions and reasonable resources to be able to project power.

“There is also Rapid Response (RP) and Strong Rapid Response (SRP), where we have men on wheels to be able to carry out patrols, raids and ambushes.

“We discovered that elements of the terrorists have a kind of mobility because we have a defence in an area, they come and attack hence the need for a change in strategy.

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“In spite of security improvement and normalcy in the towns; we still have remnant of the insurgents, with the new concept we shall be able to take the fight to them.

“Our ultimate aim is to force them to surrender and strangulate them because some economy activities are going on,” he said.

Commenting on the visit, Ibrahim said he had visited 211 and 251 Battalions of the 7 Division Garrison and interacted with troops.

The army’s new strategies came after years of fighting the terrorist group, without end, as the insurgents continued to wreck havoc on the north east part of the country.

The government and military have continued to claim that the group has been ‘technically’ defeated, even as there are still reports of attacks and killings of Nigerians, by the Boko Haram group.

So far, thousands of people have been killed by the insurgents, millions displaced from their homes, and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed.

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