By Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Michael Olugbode

The military has begun massive deployment of troops and war equipment in the North-east for a final showdown with Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa (ISWAP), THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

THISDAY gathered that the Chief of Defence Staff and head of the military establishment, General Abayomi Olonisakin, has given the final directive to the troops to crush the insurgents in line with an earlier marching order given by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, have since relocated to the North-east to coordinate the military operations in compliance with the directives.

Buratai has vowed to remain in the North-east to coordinate the war until the insurgents are defeated and the head of the terror group, Abubakar Shekau, captured.

THISDAY also gathered from military intelligence sources that the renewed military campaign may force Shekau to surrender and negotiate amnesty for himself and his top commanders.

There were speculations at the weekend that the terror leader had reached out to a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) to facilitate an amnesty agreement with the federal government.

But military sources could not confirm the claims.

THISDAY gathered that the military high command was unsettled by the claim of the Chadian President, Idris Deby, that his country has eliminated 80 per cent of the insurgents and called out Nigeria and Niger via an April 22 deadline to occupy territories in the two countries Chadian troops seized from the insurgents.

Deby’s position was said to have created the impression of an alliance between the Nigerian forces and the terrorists, an allegation the Nigerian military has debunked.

Investigation showed that since the Boko Haram’s encounter with the Chadian forces, the terrorist group has not launched any major attack against the Nigerian troops, thus validating the claims by Deby that his forces had disorganised the group.

Before the Chadian forces dislodged the group from their locations, the terrorists’ attacks on the locations of the Nigerian troops were so frequent that the military had to redeploy top commanders involved in the terror war shortly before the Chadian army had a fierce encounter with the group.

The impression of many people in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and birthplace of Boko Haram, is that the Chadian forces had thoroughly weakened the terrorist group and that the Nigerian military should follow up to defeat them.

However, determined to end the war, THISDAY learnt that the Defence Headquarters had ordered a massive deployment of troops and equipment in the North-east.

Multiple military sources confirmed to THISDAY that over 100 battle tanks with an 18-kilometre firing range were deployed in the past two weeks.

The war equipment, it was learnt, were part of the military hardware procured from Chinese arms manufacturing firm, Norinco.

They include 35 main battle tanks, 25 Typhoon MRAPs (mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles), 10 Spartan armoured personnel carriers, 20 Armoured Guard Booths, five armoured mine-clearing vehicles, 50 troop-carrying vehicles and 40 Buffalo vehicles, among others.

Others include VT-4 main battle tanks, SH5 105 mm self-propelled artillery among others.

Apart from the efforts of the land forces, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole has also ramped up attacks on insurgents’ locations as part of ongoing operations to destroy the terrorists’ capabilities before the insurgents could deploy them against the land forces and other targets.

THISDAY gathered that the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has also encircled major likely escape routes of Boko Haram commanders into Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Other channels through which they move arms have also been occupied by MNJTF troops.

There were speculations at the weekend that the dragnet spurn around the terrorists, in addition to the Chadian expedition that decimated hundreds of insurgents, have now put pressure on Shekau to allegedly seek amnesty.

Shekau, in a video released last week, had admitted that he lost many fighters during the invasion of his enclave by the Chadian troops but called on his fighters not to be discouraged by the losses.

But unconfirmed report said he had reached out to an unnamed NGO that provides humanitarian services in the North-east to explore a surrender option in return for amnesty.

Responding to a question at a briefing at the weekend on the arrest and trial of 58 terrorists by Chad in contradistinction with Nigeria’s policy of amnesty for repentant terrorists, Coordinator, Directorate of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said it was dependent on the policies of each country.

“If they (Chad) don’t know how to go about amnesty, they should ask. There’s a convention that if your enemy surrenders, you take him as prisoner of war. It’s an international convention”, he said.

Addressing troops in Borno ahead of the final onslaught against the insurgents, Buratai urged them to show commitment in order to end the war.

“We must be committed and fastidious. We must consider and work out the minutest details, factors and all possible outcomes in all our operations,” he stated.

He urged the commanders to focus on the image and integrity of the Nigerian Army.

“We must think out of the box and beyond the box. I charge you all to move out and bring this war to a positive end! Victory is from God alone,” he had said.

Source: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/04/20/military-begins-final-offensive-against-boko-haram-iswap/

ahear


Chad president moved to war front, we saw pictures, we saw action.

Buratai only announced on twitter dat he has relocated to sambisa

#Audio

Must they announce their deployment to the whole world?
These people at the helm of affairs in the military have little or no sense about the necessary discreetness of your moves when engaging an enemy! Putting our heroes in danger, taking away the element of surprise!

Idiots!!! Do they see Boko haram uploading a video of them planning an attack, did they hear Chad saying they're deploying massive troops?

Them dey announce to form activity, ineffective and ignorant bunch of miscreants masked as leaders!

Old story! Tell us something new.

Multiple military sources confirmed to THISDAY that over 100 battle tanks with an 18-kilometre firing range were deployed in the past two weeks.

THISDAY gathered that the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has also encircled major likely escape routes of Boko Haram commanders into Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Other channels through which they move arms have also been occupied by MNJTF troops.

This might be interesting let's see if the can seal the deal after Chad's weakened them. It's kinda weird that the article had so much specific information about what being deployed. The only thing that's unknown is hour of attack. Goodluck and swift victory so normalcy can return.

Let the War against Boko Haram begins...
Where is My Camera....
This Will be interesting.
Kudos in Advance to the Nigerian Army.

The initial counter-response by Chad was a quick, decisive and ruthless offensive... The Chadians didn’t wait forever to “study the situation,” or set up a “fact-finding committee,” as Nigerians officials are wont to do. Again, this was just one quick, daring sucker punch on Boko Haram with clear and decisive results.

Why announcing your offensive plan for the enemy to know? The Chadian president and army never announced their plan to anyone but simply went in, inflicted the maximum damage & left the results for all to see.

Deby’s position was said to have created the impression of an alliance between the Nigerian forces and the terrorists......

“If they (Chad) don’t know how to go about amnesty, they should ask. There’s a convention that if your enemy surrenders, you take him as prisoner of war. It’s an international convention”,

Terrorists are hardened by their ideological beliefs from which they draw inspiration.So they never repent or change.No amnesty, rehabilitation or scholarship for any terrorist.

It is long overdue.
All the best gallant officers.

“If they (Chad) don’t know how to go about amnesty, they should ask. There’s a convention that if your enemy surrenders, you take him as prisoner of war. It’s an international convention”, he said.

Lol Chad doesn't want mumu advice hence why they didn't ask. You take prisoners of war then prosecute them accordingly with either prison or death sentences.

While preparing for this battle, make sure the rules of engagement is enforced. And most importantly, kill them all.

Stephenomozzy:
Must they announce their deployment to the whole world?
These people at the helm of affairs in the military have little or no sense about the necessary discreetness of your moves when engaging an enemy! Putting our heroes in danger, taking away the element of surprise!

Idiots!!! Do they see Boko haram uploading a video of them planning an attack, did they hear Chad saying they're deploying massive troops?

Them dey announce to form activity, ineffective and ignorant bunch of miscreants masked as leaders!

So how did we know that Chadian President was to lead an attack?

Click like for the Chadian army ..





Click share for the Mighty Nigerian army..






The people have spoken

Doyin2:


So how did we know that Chadian President was to lead an attack?

If you follow international news at all, you'll see that no military spends its time on the media spewing propagandas on how they have or will defeat an enemy and almost selling out their strategies (Our Service Chiefs don't have any strategy anyways)...... When Chad states their intent to pay back bokoharam after they attacked their soldiers, did you not SEE THE MONUMENTAL RESULTS THEY GOT! you see how well they dislodged the terrorists to the extent that even our army couldn't help but acknowledge the good work.

Our own army has used the names of all animals in Africa to do Operation time and time again, and yet there's nothing to show for it other than a recurring debit in our already depleting financial resources.

All this news about the military are "audio news"
Kill wetin you wan kill, which one be "watch out I want to kill Boko Haram" guy do wetin you sign up for, and get the hell out of media,, we will see results with our eyes on, (i.e if there's no more acclaimed bombing by Boko Haram)

Superwave:
I am yet to see a bigger coward than Burutai for a general. Imagine a general of the Nigeria army took over 6 years to destroy ragtag boko haram ravaging his own home town ?! Some general deserve to be stoned to death.

He reminds me of Amerian civil war generals that were afraid to pursue the enemy. After thewar over this conflict has to be studied at war colleges. Chadian military tactics wirk better. The killed 1000 of there troops after taking loss a week prior.

Best of luck

Audio...

Who dey won deceive again
Government na scam

Lemme remain silent.

I wish I could be optimistic..

Everything na AUDIO....

Action speaks louder than voice...Chad president and Army dealt with those sect without mercy..

Since 2014, the ratio of ;

the number of deaths recorded or caused by Boko Haram : to the Number of Boko Haram sect killed by Nigerian Army

is 8 : 2

They should do the needful and stop bragging

That is the problem with the Audio military under hushpuppi leader. Always Announcing her strategy before execution.

Back then in the military class, I was taught that the greatest weapon in a war is taking your enemies unawares.

Now Boko haram will be coordinated to lay ambush and seize their sophisticated weapons. They should go and learn from chad.

Our darling president has had enough of their bullshit. Time to flush them out. God bless president Buhari.

God bless the men that risk their lives at the battle field.
These are peoples brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, husbands....They have families at home.

We know many cowards hide behind their keyboards to speak like the idiots they are against these men, yet they cant stand two thieves holding sticks to threaten them.....


May mother earth grant them victory against the oppressors of the innocent

Final abii...... Okay oooo
Goodluck to u guys......clear d bastards once and for all
Hope we will nor comman see anoda video of shekau after this "FINAL OFFENSIVE"??

I love anything that has to do with animation : Toy story, Madagascar, Shrek, Zootopia, how to train your dragon, Tom and Jerry, Up, the list is endless



I love it!!