Boko Haram war: Army removes commander

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday removed the Theatre Commander of
the Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim, and
appointed a new Major General to head the military anti-insurgency
operation in the North-East.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman,
confirmed the development to our correspondent on the telephone,
noting that Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas has been named as his
replacement.

Usman said, “It is true that a new commander has been appointed
for Operation Lafiya Dole. I can confirm the appointment.”

Until his new appointment, Nicholas was the Chief of Logistics
at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

Our correspondent learnt that the army’s high command was not
pleased with the prosecution of the war against insurgency in the
North-East, which had lately led to attacks on military bases, the
most recent being in the Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno
State.

Ibrahim took over from Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, who is now the
Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in May 2017.

Among the perceived shortcomings of the outgoing commander was
his inability to capture the Boko Haram terrorists’ leader,
Abubakar Shekau.

It was reported in August 2017 that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
Gen Tukur Buratai, issued a 40-day ultimatum to the Operation
Lafiya Dole Theatre Command to capture Shekau, but that had not
been done since the deadline expired in September.

It was learnt that Ibrahim has been redeployed to the army
headquarters, Abuja.

Although the reason for the removal was not stated, it was
learnt that the redeployment was connected with the most recent
Boko Haram attacks in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State,
in which at least 18 persons were killed.

It was reported that two suicide bombers attacked Biu in
southern Borno on Saturday and killed 18 persons in the town’s main
market.

The police in Borno had said 53 others were injured and had been
evacuated to the medical facility.

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday removed the Theatre Commander of
the Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim, and
appointed a new Major General to head the military anti-insurgency
operation in the North-East.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman,
confirmed the development to our correspondent on the telephone,
noting that Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas has been named as his
replacement.

Usman said, “It is true that a new commander has been appointed
for Operation Lafiya Dole. I can confirm the appointment.”

Until his new appointment, Nicholas was the Chief of Logistics
at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

Our correspondent learnt that the army’s high command was not
pleased with the prosecution of the war against insurgency in the
North-East, which had lately led to attacks on military bases, the
most recent being in the Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno
State.

Ibrahim took over from Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, who is now the
Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force in May 2017.

Among the perceived shortcomings of the outgoing commander was
his inability to capture the Boko Haram terrorists’ leader,
Abubakar Shekau.

It was reported in August 2017 that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
Gen Tukur Buratai, issued a 40-day ultimatum to the Operation
Lafiya Dole Theatre Command to capture Shekau, but that had not
been done since the deadline expired in September.

It was learnt that Ibrahim has been redeployed to the army
headquarters, Abuja.

Although the reason for the removal was not stated, it was
learnt that the redeployment was connected with the most recent
Boko Haram attacks in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State,
in which at least 18 persons were killed.

It was reported that two suicide bombers attacked Biu in
southern Borno on Saturday and killed 18 persons in the town’s main
market.

The police in Borno had said 53 others were injured and had been
evacuated to the medical facility.