The Nigerian Army has appointed a Commander for the offensive against the insurgents in the Northeast of Nigeria. Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar is to lead “Operation Lafiya Dole,” an offensive aimed at crushing Islamist insurgents. His appointment was contained in a short press release circulated on Monday, 17th August, 2015 by the army.
General Abubakar had in the past served as the Commander of Nigerian Army Armored Corps. His current appointment takes immediate effect.
According to the statement, General Abubakar was appointed to head the military offensive in order to “meet up with the established time line of bringing to a successful conclusion the fight against terrorism and insurgency.”
The military statement which was signed by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, acting director of Army Public Relations, disclosed that the operation would be operate as “a unified command coordinating 3 and 7 Divisions of the Nigerian Army as well as other elements of Operation Lafiya Dole.”
The statement said it was “the first time the Nigerian Army in its history is deploying Corps Headquarters in the field.”
Boko Haram insurgents in recent times have intensified suicide bombings and other armed assaults at different locations in the beleaguered northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
