bidexiii:


Let me burst your bubbles.
We had many military base/F.O.B back then than now. Honestly I shouldn't be arguing with you. During the heat of the war three states where affected, so the field of of operation lafia dole was wide in terms of operational field to cover.
Since BHT was pushed some of these F.O.B as been closed and even the numbers we use to have then in Borno as been reduced.

Covert1:


If it helps you sleep at night. You weren't the only one in the field. Nothing you said is unknown. We are talking of where fighting has been strongest lately. And to drown your defiance to reality that there was more proliferation of remote dug in FOBs how come about Metele. Pls shed some light. How come fewer FOBs can't be held by the Army as opposed to when we had more FOBs.

bidexiii:



Same as you......
Even where the fighting as been predominant, the numbers of F.O.B and military presence/operation has been reduced.

Covert1:


This is in contrast to the reality. [b]Your assertion above was only recently with the new strategy of Super Camps. It is not even 2 months, shoot! Everyone here knows this. Heck, even housewives know it. [/b]It is open knowledge with Burutai even seen in the field himself ordering troops to dominate every nook and cranny of Northern Borno. Former Army Chiefs never did anything of the sort. We all cheered. We are all guilty. We said its the right thing to do. We hailed the chief. That strategy is what led to the deployment of the I57 task force battalion to Metele close to the Niger border and so many other such like remote deployments that wasn't a static thing before. Even Nigeriens used to complain the Nigerians are non-existent there. Media reports are online we can fact check. But alas, ISWAP came calling. We are all patriots here and wanting the best and to be fair to the fallen let's say the facts. The proliferation of FOBs was accelerated under General Buratai and he meant well but it failed.

BabaOwen:
Boko Haram insurgents are currently burning houses in Mifa, a village in Chibok local government area of Borno state.

A resident told TheCable that the insurgents arrived at the village in large numbers around 8pm, and immediately began to set houses ablaze.

“They are burning houses as I speak to you, many of them arrived with motorcycles and started attacking the village,” the source said.

“Many houses have been burnt.”

More to follow…

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thecable.ng/breaking-many-houses-on-fire-as-boko-haram-hits-chibok/amp

BabaOwen:
Boko Haram insurgents are currently burning houses in Mifa, a village in Chibok local government area of Borno state.

A resident told TheCable that the insurgents arrived at the village in large numbers around 8pm, and immediately began to set houses ablaze.

“They are burning houses as I speak to you, many of them arrived with motorcycles and started attacking the village,” the source said.

“Many houses have been burnt.”

More to follow…

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thecable.ng/breaking-many-houses-on-fire-as-boko-haram-hits-chibok/amp

Covert1:


Have you not been seeing the ammo the military have been dashing ISWAP since Baga 1.0.
Or where have you been that strategy hasn't worked and won't work if you like fire 100 anti-tank missiles at them, they keep coming. The best is to have an air asset that can loiter for upwards of 6 to 12 hours at a cost of 500 dollars and not a fast jet for 20mins with fewer weapon load for thousands of dollars. Advanced technology is needed to have any advantage against ISWAP not the old-school doctrine of close with and destroy the enemy. This enemy is not afraid to die.

seankafor:
this one is just sniffing around for bad news to share

bidexiii:


My assertion is not about the idea of the super camps creation camps. Am talking about the gradual withdrawal of troops outpost/F.O.B in the North East theatre since 2017.
You can't compare the numbers of troops/F.O.Bs from 2011 -2017 to 2017 till present day.
This is not I heard it's what I have witnessed, I have been to Borno state and it's enviRon twice this year and before the end of the year it's certain I will be in the north east.
It's of no point you're been biased and no clue of what you're saying.

Toju200:
This insurgency war is something we must try and understand there are most times set backs and sometimes advances.You can't compare what it was like then.Mostly 2014.it was hell for Nigeria Bombings here and there Even in Abuja Eagle square,UN hq GEJ tried but PMB did well within a short period of time.What we're facing now are new sets of Demons escaped from Syria and Iraq.We need to set up the Game I remembered the pounding NAF gave BHT 2016/2017 those where the years of Airstrikes.We do have the weaponry to face them but from my understanding most of these Battalions (Mostly @ the hotzones) has access to them.If not for some corrupt generals.....Hmm.. All units or FOB should have at least four MRAP lots of RPG and few guntrucks as Force multiplier.We are vulnerable to ambushes because we use Light skin vehicles in patrol or transport of some supplies or troops.While we wait for the game changers(Super tucano, Remaining MI35m and Agusta AW109 Help) we pray things don't escalate..We should appreciate what our Men has done since these ISWAP guys came in Existence..Our surrounding neighbors should also do something most of these guys past through these countries to get to us...Cameroon Niger Chad stand up.

GabrielYulaw:


Yes, this enemy is not afraid to die, and that is why I advocate using overwhelming power to crush them. The previous FOB didn't work cos they were not implemented well, not cos the strategy itself was faulty. If overwhelming power is brought to bear and used well, the enemy will have no option than to run or risk extermination.

The type of FOBS I'm suggesting make use of lots of advanced technology. Like MALE drones for permanent situational awareness, antitank missiles to engage enemy technicals at ranges the guns on these technicals would be ineffective and short range artillery and rockets fired from within the FOBS to break up massed infantry attacks.

Like I also said earlier, each FOB should be permanently under friendly artillery and rocket cover. That is not difficult to do. We do have some long range artillery and can buy more from the Chinese, Russians or South Africans. The G 6 Rhino for example would be perfect.

China sells UCAV drones very cheap, as well as not-very-sophisticated antitank and anti-personnel missiles. They also have lots of long-range rockets in the Weishu series. Why haven't we gone shopping there?

I don't understand how you can't see that the Super Camp is just giving the enemy all the breathing space they need. You said the front is quiet, that's cos they are resting, recuperating and rearming.

As for the Tucano, I like them too, but we are not buying enough of them to matter. More, they don't have armor and can be shot down with the heavy weaponry the enemy have in abundance.
What's more, the speed is uninspiring. Say a base is under attack, can a Tucano get there in time to alter the outcome of battle? I don't think so. If we are buying 40, then I would be impressed. And don't tell me we don't have money to buy 40 or even 100, cos money is not something that is lacking in Nigeria.

I don't know where you get your figures from, but I'm not sure a fast jet can loiter for just 20 minutes. If you are talking of the Mig 21 that would be true. But that is not applicable to 4th gen and up combat Jets. These can in fact loiter for several hours and even shut down an engine if needed to improve on loiter time. No jet I know save for interceptors and high speed reconnaissance platforms have just 20 minutes loiter time. They can carry external fuel tanks or air refuel if required.

More, I don't really know if you are aware if what the Tucano can do. It can carry just 1.5 tons of armament. You call that a heavy load? Even a few Chinese armed drones carry more ordnance.

And there's something I need to address. You talk of air assets and weapons and complain that they are too costly. That is good, but in my opinion an erroneous view. Our existence as a nation is at stake. As such, cost should be irrelevant for maintaining our unity and territorial integrity.

We should buy whatever weapons that are required to win this war regardless of cost. If it's an aircraft carrier that we need, then we should place an order for it today. The reason is simple: whatever might be able the cost of acquisition, it is easily dwarfed by the cost of our doing nothing.

Let me ask you this, how much has been lost in economic growth and development since this war started? How much has been lost in the form of lost taxes and revenue? How much has been lost in destroyed goods and services? As we speak the North East grows ever more inhabitable due to mines, IEDS and desertification effects worsened by the ravages of war.

More, this war is giving bandits uncommon boldness. Just this week some troops were killed by bandits. That wouldn't have happened if the war had long been won, cos it would have made it possible for the army to bring peace and security to all of the North.

So yes, any platform that will help us win this war fast must be speedily acquired, cost be damned. If it's a spaceship, we should place an order fast

My apologies for the long epistle.

Covert1:


What you wrote have been tried multiple times yet we are back to the drawing board. ISWAP has since learnt that they can swarm those FOBs with massive forces and speed that does not give you enough time to fire those weapons you mentioned. They have since learnt that if they can get close enough in contact with troops then long range artillery and close-air-support becomes useless. You mention anti-tank weapons like it's not in Nigeria or long range artillery. The Nigerian Army has tons of anti-tank weapons from various suppliers even anti-tank weapons with guided missiles. Even some armour in the NA inventory can fire anti-tank shells. The terrain where some of those remote FOBs are located makes it a challenge to deploy some of these heavy armour besides associated risks involved. The FOBs have simply proven untenable. We are talking lives here. The Americans tried these same tactics in Vietnam for over 10 years and eventually lost 58,000 men and still pulled out. Going back and forth bleeding over same tiny patch of land with no strategic military value for me makes no sense when we should evolve other ways and means to annihilate the enemy. No one is happy to see them marauding in the hinterlands but its barren ghost isolated enclaves. This war has gone technological, even ISWAP employs modest modern means of war fighting that has caught our troops off guide. What I advocate is more investment in advanced drone technology that can fire missiles, cameras and ground sensors for troops on combat patrol and yes those Tucanos are really wonder weapons for CT/COIN warfare. Its agile for air and ground attack roles and comes with good armour for the pilots and other defensive suits in a low threat environment. Its biggest advantage is to loiter, see and kill with precision. ISWAP will find it hard to survive.
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/super_tucano/

Covert1:


I understand your eagerness but its simplistic. Nothing new. Tell us something we don't know. Its unrealistic to think we should buy the whole world to chase tin pod terrorists running around in the North-East with Ak-47s and AA guns. This is not conventional war that requires massive artillery. We are in a cat and mouse race that requires surgical approach to winning which is where technology comes in. The NAF don't have the Alphas or F-7s up there burning fuel for 2 hours, it makes no sense when they can call in Air Strikes via ISR platforms. Fast jets cost more to run and maintain or even kept in storage. We are not getting just any Super-Tucano, we are getting 12 of the A-29 which I think is adequate. It is a flying computer that can be up there for upwards of 6 hours at a time and pick out targets as small as a car with precision with its advanced sensors for a cost of 500 to 1000 dollars operational cost and maintenance. It has a proven record. Super-Tucanos almost single handedly ended the worst insurgency ever know to mankind in Colombia against the FARC. It is helping the ANA in Afghanistan. I can only see it as a game changing weapon. ISWAP does not have any known capability to shoot it down besides the A-29s have RWR and Missile Warning Approach. It can carry more than 1.5 tons of weapons depending on configuration and makes up for smart weapons. It also has good speed and combat radius. FOBs have hardly worked. The Americans tried it in Afghanistan, it didn't work. The idea should be to fight and win the war on the cheap. In the end the objective of war is peace.

bidexiii:
PRESS RELEASE

TROOPS AMBUSH TERRORISTS, 3 terrorists neutralized, Recover Arms & Ammunition in Gwoza Axis

Following credible information from some patriotic Nigerians about terrorists movement along Banki Road Junction, Pulka in Gwoza general area, troops of Special Response Area (SRA) Pulka under the Nigerian Army Super Camp Gwoza, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force conducted a successful night ambush on Thursday 3rd October 2019, which resulted in the neutralization of 3 terrorists, recovery of 2 AK 47 Rifles and 2 motor cycles. Uncomfirmed number of terrorists were reportedly wounded during the ambush. There is no casualty on the Nigerian Army or Civilian JTF.

Items recovered by troops include 2 X AK 47 rifles and 2 X bicycles.

Similarly, at about 2250 hours on 3rd October 2019, in what seems like a repraisal attack to avenge the lost of their members in the ambush conducted by the troops, some marauders/criminals woefully attacked the Delta Company Location of the SRA at Pulka. Consequently, troops swiftly responded by effectively repelling the attack, one bandit lost his life and one Ak 47 rifle was recovered. No casualty was recorded by the Civ JTF or the troops.

The Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE Brigadier General AK Ibrahim was in SRA Pulka where he interacted with the troops, commended them for the successes so far and urged them to remain committed and unwavering in the struggle to end the insurgency soon.

ADO ISA
Colonel
Deputy Director Army Public Relations
7 Division
4 October 2019

GabrielYulaw:


Actually, what I advocated for has not been tried by the NA with no success. I advocated for FOBs armed with short range MLRS, under permanent cover of drones and surveillance platforms and with multiple observation posts in case all these gizmos fail at the most inconvenient time. That has to my knowledge not been done.

You say ISWAP has learned to swarm the FOBs, that is because the FOBs were not as well constructed and defended as they should be. Swarm tactics have been proved as ineffective since the 1st World War, where men were mown down in the hundreds of thousands by machine guns. So, were ISWAP to swarm a FOB, nothing stops our men from engaging their gun trucks at range with anti-tank missiles and engaging their infantry with mortars and short range rocket launchers like the Vasiliesk.

Should these prove ineffectual, our men can retreat into bunkers and have their base pounded to bits by friendly artillery to blast any enemy that is above ground. This has not been done and was previously used to great effect by the Americans in Vietnam, especially in their CIA outposts in Laos and Cambodia.

More, yes the NA has lots of long range artillery. But for some reason it is not using these as much as it should. If it were, no base under artillery support can fall. These heavy armor vehicles as you call them do not need to be based in the FOB themselves, but in safe places far away. Should a FOB be out of range of friendly artillery fire support, rocket artillery should be more than enough.

As for the Americans in Vietnam, you are comparing apples and bananas. One, the Americans lacked domestic support for the war and saw a lot of protests and draft dodgers like Trump. Here, domestic support for the war is strong. Two, the Vietcong were given all the material support they needed by the Russians and the Chinese. ISWAP and Boko boys only get most of their supplies from attacking NA bases.

Third, lack of clear policies made the war unwinnable for the Americans. At first, they prioritized the body count, and this against an opponent that was fully ready to die for what they believed in. This has parallels with the current NA strategy. Fourth, the war in Vietnam was fought in jungles. The thick vegetation made it really difficult to come to grips with the enemy. We don't face this problem, because much of the North East is open land and desert. As such, the enemy can be easily spotted via surveillance platforms that detect heat, movement and the like.

Fifth, the Americans never lost a battle in Vietnam. This can't be said of the NA. Sixth, American tactics in Vietnam were much more flexible and reactive. More, they used Huey helicopters to conduct constant raids and deny the enemy of rest. Sure, they used FOBs, but none were ever overrun, because just a phone call would get B-52s, Thuds and artillery pounding away in support. The comparison is not even close.

You call the territory being currently occupied by ISWAP and the Boko boys useless and you are right. But would you say the same thing if that territory was your village?

What the NA is currently doing is like the lord of the castle hearing that marauding hordes are ravaging the countryside. So, he does what he can by instructing his people to take refuge in the castle. Now, when the hordes finish pillaging, will they leave for home or will they lay siege to and destroy the castle? Your guess is as good as mine. ISWAP will never be content with the slice of territory granted to them by current NA policies. I don't know why that is hard to grasp.

Left to me, I would use the over $600 million we paid for the Tucanos to buy like 50 Chinese UCAVs. Half would be purely for reconnaissance and the other half would be armed to the teeth and ankle bone with cheap and smart Chinese/Russian munitions. These would be permanently parked over the North East and will cover every inch of it. Should this be done there is simply no way ISWAP can fart without the NA hearing it and pounding them to bits.

Lastly, please and please, the North East is NOT a low-threat environment. Our Mil Mi 35s have been shot down there and trust me they didn't throw potatoes at it to bring them down

GabrielYulaw:


These are tin pot terrorists with global ambitions. They aim not just to loot, but to kill, conquer and destroy. They have long been giving us a bloody nose and are dictating the pace of war.

More, sure the Chinese have like 40 variants of the F-7, but I don't think any has a loiter time of 2 hours. Or even 1 hour.

12 Tucanos to cover the whole North East? And do remember that not all will be available at all times due to maintenance.

Can you point me to an American FOB that was overrun in Afghanistan. Tucanos acquitted themselves well in Colombia, but that is not the case in Afghanistan. You can can give the ANA 2,000 Tucanos and if the Americans pulled back all their forces today and withheld material support, I am pretty sure that Afghanistan will fall to the Taliban in a week or so.

My apology, but I think our aim right now should be to bring massive force to bear and win this war fast, costs be damned. In case you haven't noticed, the exploits of these crazies have been giving bandits courage and boldness. They might soon metamorphose into another ISWAP.

Also, the objective of any war should be to strike fast with a flurry of punches that the enemy cannot counter and eliminate him while he is disoriented.

Covert1:


Battle plans sound good on paper but mostly don't survive contact with the enemy. Well then, goodluck with the plan. At least u have a plan.

GabrielYulaw:


Bidexiii, are these bandits or Boko boys? I am asking cos SamuelAnyanwu said that the Boko boys use bicycles to travel around.

SamuelAnyawu:


Some of these guys called Bokoharam in Southern Borno are bandits and got no single doctrine of Bokoharam. I have previously worked in Gwoza and Damboa LGA. I remember vividly the Damboa - Biu road it has lots of bandits stealing monies, phones and laptops from travellers.

I asked my colleague a Burah dude from Biu how is it possible that these guys operating on Damboa-Biu road are Armed Robbers and not Bokoharam. He explained to me that Armed Robbery has always been on the high right from the 80s in Damboa LGA. i can't even remember which of our Military President wife was from that axis that even in the 90 the Airforce threw bombs in that axis cos of these bandits.

When the Bokoharam issue started in 2010 some of these bandits move to some areas like Wajiroko and Alagarno forest carrying out their nefarious activities. They are neither safe in the hands of the Military and Bokoharam

Some of the food scavenging going on in Borno South aee carried out by Bandits especially the Damboa-Gumsuri-Chibok road and Damboa-Azir-Biu road.

The real Bokoharam are more on the Maiduguri-Damboa road and the Gwoza-Pulka-Bitta areas

GabrielYulaw:


Yes, this enemy is not afraid to die, and that is why I advocate using overwhelming power to crush them. The previous FOB didn't work cos they were not implemented well, not cos the strategy itself was faulty. If overwhelming power is brought to bear and used well, the enemy will have no option than to run or risk extermination.

GabrielYulaw:

.

Left to me, I would use the over $600 million we paid for the Tucanos to buy like 50 Chinese UCAVs. Half would be purely for reconnaissance and the other half would be armed to the teeth and ankle bone with cheap and smart Chinese/Russian munitions. These would be permanently parked over the North East and will cover every inch of it. Should this be done there is simply no way ISWAP can fart without the NA hearing it and pounding them to bits.

Lastly, please and please, the North East is NOT a low-threat environment. Our Mil Mi 35s have been shot down there and trust me they didn't throw potatoes at it to bring them down

Covert1:


I don't see any military victory in this war at least not from direct combat as we've known so far.

GabrielYulaw:


Bidexiii, are these bandits or Boko boys? I am asking cos SamuelAnyanwu said that the Boko boys use bicycles to travel around.

Odunayaw:
First of, its misleading when you say the US never lost any battle or base in Vietnam. From the top of my head I can remember Battle of Dong Xoai, Battle of Lang Vei etc.. There are tens of 'bases' and maybe hundreds of "battles" lost.

Nemesis8u please repost that your stuff on UCAV.

What Mi35 was shot down?