SAN FRANCISCO, November 12, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has absorbed 400 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) into its fold, to counter the insurgency of Boko Haram.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who commissioned the 400 men, in the presence of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai said they are the first batch to be recruited by the army. He said there will be other batches of the Civilian JTF joining forces with the army.
The CJTF, a local group which emerged in 2013 to support the Nigerian security forces in the fight against Boko Haram and to protect local communities from attacks by the insurgents was formalized by the Borno State Government through collaboration with the military.
The Chief of Army Staff said that the history of CJTF dated back to the 18th century in Europe during wars where it was discovered that the volunteers were very key to the various wars that they had fought.
He said that the CJTF had been a major factor in the counter-insurgency operation in the North East, adding that they were instrumental in chasing off terrorists from towns into the forest and bushes.
According to him, “it is very important that we must get them to play that important role in identifying these terrorists and their influence from one position to the other. As we collaborate today, this counterinsurgency should not be left for the military alone as its success does not fully lie with the military. The collaboration with the civil authority as well as the volunteers is a welcome development.”
The COAS commended the governor for his effort in gathering the volunteers toward ensuring that the people return to their communities. He assured that the collaboration between the military and the CJTF as well as other security agencies would ensure the actualisation of the resettlement plan of the government.
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According to him, elaborate arrangements have been made for their welfare as well as the equipment for them to operate effectively.
He added that the CJTF would be the stabilising force that would change the course of the counter-insurgency operation in the North East.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya said the incorporation of the Civilian JTF into army operations was aimed at harnessing the skills and competence of the personnel in terms of the terrain and environment which were essential ingredients in fighting insurgency.
Yahaya said the members of the CJTF would also help in identifying the wanted terrorists.
He commended the effort of the state government in assembling members of the CJTF to support the military in achieving its objectives.
According to him, the CJTF assembled here is a comprehensive plan of the COAS to key them into this operation and that is why we already have guidelines for their operation and conduct among others.
The CJTF members were recruited, trained, kitted, deployed and paid monthly allowances to motivate them.
Zulum promised to continually support the Nigerian Military and volunteers in sustained effort to attain peace and security. He also approved the donation of 100 motorcycles for the army’s remote operations in the state.
The Governor announced the intervention at a brief ceremony in Maiduguri which was attended by military commanding officers from operation Lafiya dole.
He renewed his call on Boko Haram insurgents to lay down their arms and surrender. “For those that are still in the bush, terrorising innocent lives and destroying properties, I call upon all of them to surrender. You are killing your brothers and sisters, destroying your own infrastructure that was built using money generated through tax from your forefathers. Today we have all seen the level of devastation, nobody has been left, we are all affected in one way or another”, he added.
