Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says he has relocated to the North East to oversee and direct the overall operation in the theatre and other army operations across the country.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
He said that Buratai disclosed this while addressing the troops of Special Super Camp Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno on Thursday.
According to him, the COAS had been on operational tour to troops’ locations in the North East Theatre of Operation since April 4.
“During the tour, he was at the Army Super Camp 1 at Mulai and the Special Forces Super Camp 12 at Chabbol near Maiduguri on April 8 where he interacted with the officers and addressed the troops respectively.
“COAS was also at the Forward Operations Base at Alau Dam, and also personally led the troops on patrol round Mairimari and Maigilari Forests.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to reassure Nigerians that it is highly committed to protecting all law abiding citizens and defending our territorial integrity.
“Members of the public are requested to note that there is no any form of insecurity that can not be surmounted, and the Boko Haram/ISWAP’s terrorism will also end in the nearest future,” he said.
Buratai’s decision to relocate follows announcement by Chadian authorities that its military killed about 1,000 Boko Haram fighters during an operation on the islands of Lake Chad.
An army spokesman announced the results of the raid on Thursday, saying the operation cleared extremists from the islands in a region between Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.
The lake has been described as a “marshy body of water” bordering the four countries.
52 soldiers were also reportedly killed in the eight-day operation, while around 200 were wounded.
“The Operation Boma Rage, launched on March 31st under the supervision of the supreme army commander, has ended,” Col. Azem Bermandoa said.
“The defense and security forces, with courage and determination, have rooted the terrorists of Boko Haram from the islands of Lake Chad.”
The raid came after more than 90 Chadian soldiers were killed late last month in an attack by the extremists.
