By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Theater Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Hadin Kai North East, Major General Ibrahim Ali, says over 100,000 Boko Haram insurgents have voluntarily surrendered to the military within the six months of his leadership at the theater command.
Maj. Gen. Ali disclosed this on Thursday while handing over the mantle of leadership of the theater command to his successor, Major General Gold Chibusi, who was deployed from Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Njamainah, Chad Republic.
Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Ali, who is the new Force Commander of MNJTF, added that a lot of successes were achieved despite the few challenges that the military is being confronted with during the last six months.
Parts of the achievements according to him, included the rescue and release of 2 NGO workers and 3 Chibok schoolgirls from the captivity of the.insurgents while 8 additional Boko Haram insurgents voluntarily surrendered and laid down their arms to the security agencies on Wednesday this week.
He thanked officers and soldiers of the theater command for their commitment, loyalty and cooperation that they accorded to him during the various operations carried out across the north east and Lake Chad region.
General Ali further appealed to them to extend the loyalty and cooperation to his successor which led to the various achievements while advising the sector and unit commanders of the theater command to continue to be vigilant and disciplined as well carry out regular trainings for themselves and the soldiers with a view to end the crisis.
He also called on the commanders to take the issue of welfare of their soldiers more seriously as a motivating factor towards encouraging the soldiers to put in their best in the fight against terrorism.
He further urged the new Theater Commander to maintain the tempo of successes recorded so far as an experienced and professional senior military officer who has the knowledge of the state and theater command having served as Bama Brigade Commander in the past.
Earlier on Wednesday night, a send off ceremony was organized for the outgoing Theater Commander at the Maimalari Officer Mess where senior military officers and commanders commended his leadership style and appreciated his followership with officers and soldiers of the theater command headquarters during his stay and wished him success in his new post.
The new Theater Commander, Maj. Gen. Gold Chibusi, however, in his remark assured the officers and soldiers of the theater command that he will continue the good work his predecessor has started and even build on it with their support, loyalty and cooperation.
He also pledged to establish a synergy among all the commands, units and teams of the theater command with a view to finish the war and restore permanent peace in the state and region at large.
Highlights of the events was the presentation of gifts to the top senior officers redeployed from the theater command and group photographs as well as change of guard.
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