FG sets up joint task force

THE Federal Government has directed the immediate establishment of a Special Joint Military Task Force specifically to tackle the Boko Haram crises in the North with Maiduguri in Borno State as headquarters of the task force. The task force to be headed by a Major General of the Armoured Corps would comprise the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Police and the Department State Security, SSS. Already Vanguard gathered that about 200 operatives of the SSS have arrived Maiduguri, 300 officers of the Nigeria Airforce, 300 officers of the Nigeria Navy and 500 soldiers of the Army have landed, with their Force Commander, ready to be deployed for action. It was further gathered that at the end of the day, the Nigerian Army would have two battalions of soldiers in place, the Nigeria Police will deploy 1, 500 officers, the SSS would have 500 operatives, the Airforce, 650 officers; while the Nigeria Navy will have 750 officers deployed. Director, Army Public Relations, Brig_General Rafael Isa, told Vanguard there were plans to support operations there, but said he could not confirm if the troops had been deployed. It would be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, Tuesday, made an operational visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he received 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers donated by the state government to the police to fight the Boko Haram menace. Last week also, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, at an Army forum said the Army has carried out thorough research on the modus operandi of the Boko Haram sect and had discovered the solution to the menace.