Amidst rumours that a vital member of the five members multi national joint task force (MNJTF) Niger has pulled out, the Chief of defense staff General Chris Musa has said that it was not true the country dumped the alliance.
General Musa who led a high powered delegation of the military command to Maiduguri this week to see things for himself told newsmen that in spite of the diplomatic row between Niger and the Ecowas sub region, pulling out from the fight against insurgents has not been contemplated.
He said that when it comes to dealing with the insurgents by not allowing them to breath within the porous borders of the MNJTF countries, Niger is still committed to the fight to ensure that the insurgents are flushed away from the region.
Responding to questions by journalists after his closed door review of the war from the theatre commander and his team, he noted that Nigeria is the only country which is involved in facing the war from a multi faceted battle front and that explains why this war has lingered for over 15 years.
“I believe that our relationship is still top notch. We are also working towards making things better. I don’t think they are that angry with us as to want to pull out just like that.
” The truth is that their main anger is with France not us but we would surely work out ways to ensure that we work together. They are very much still in the war.
” What you are seeing as the latest attacks on the lake Chad area is as a result of attacks on the Sahelian space. That is why we are asking you gentlemen to assist us in preaching peace to help us end this carnage.”
Standing up to the terrorists in the Lake Chad
Responding to this reporter’s question on the challenges of the lake Chad, General Musa said that the military high command which he heads is quite aware of the state of the lake Chad and the Tumbus Islands.
He noted that the lake Chad is very important to Nigeria and the international community adding that management has not abandoned the region which is a known hide out of the insurgents who enjoy invincibility because of myriads of challenges affecting the troops like water hyacinths around the region.
General Musa regretted that the lake Chad has receded to about 10 percent of its original volume adding that in spite of that, there are serious plans to recharge the water to suit the befitting nations around.
On how far has the navy gone with the clearance operations of the thick water hyacinths slowing down operations in the Tumbus, it was obvious that there were set backs and they were looking forward to the response of the chief security officer of the state Governor Babagana Zulum
“The lake Chad will soon be opened up so that challenges could be handled expediently.
” Let me assure you that the terrorists would be dealt with when the water is ultimately recharged. It is quite low now and that is quite critical to the proposed work ahead.
“We believe that the United Nations has a very big plan towards clearing the lake Chad for proper operations and we expect them to be a vital hand in fixing the extreme dryness being encountered by the region now.
” Gentlemen, security is every one’s business. It is a Nigerian problem. We do not expect residents to sit back in their homes and push it to the military because we must all come on board and handle things.
“So since the challenge is a Nigerian one and we are all in this together, I would want to see you in the media support us as part of your non kinetic responsibilities ” said Musa.
General Musa had earlier visited the armoury of Giwa barracks which was said to have exploded due to extreme heat which had plagued Maiduguri since the beginning of June when temperatures sometimes oscillated between 43 and 47 degrees Celsius.
The armory had exploded just after the new theatre Commander ((TC)General Abdulsalam Abubakar had taking over even as he hit the ground running as a true warrior that he is having served the theatre before as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 division of the Nigerian army.
The visit of the top brasses from the defense headquarters led by Gen Musa may not be unconnected with recent setbacks suffered by troops within the lake Chad region particularly Marte, Kala Balge and Gamboru Ngala where the iswap terrorists have been seen by residents regrouping near Worsele possibly for another attack on troops.
