The Nigerian Government has changed strategy in its war against the Boko Haram terrorist sect by a new Army Division mandated to take over from the peacekeeping Joint Task Force (JTF). The new strategy comes into effect today, according to a statement released last night by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade.

According to the statement, “Command of the ongoing internal security operations in the North-east will Monday enter a new phase as the control of the mission reverts to the Army Headquarters. A new army Division has been created and will take off to continue the counter-insurgency operation with immediate effect.

“Coming three months into the mission to stamp out terrorism in the North-East, this development is in line with the plans laid out for the conduct of the operations to execute the mandate spelt out in the State of Emergency declaration by the President, Commander-in-Chief.

“The phase being concluded on Monday was executed by a Joint Task Force composed by troops drawn from the Services of the Armed Forces as well as other security agencies who conducted Operation BOYONA.

“Code-named Operation BOYONA, an acronym derived from the names of the 3 states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa covered by the State of Emergency declaration, the effort was meant to constitute the first phase of the counter-terrorists operation.

“A General Officer Commanding (GOC), in the rank of Major-General, is being proposed to command the new Division which will have its headquarters in Maiduguri. He is due to take over Command and the assets of the headquarters of the Joint Task Force.”

Brig.-Gen. Olukolade explained that the new Division is to continue with the conduct of counter-terrorists operations in the North-East which comes under its Area of Responsibility (AOR) with the Nigerian Army solely in charge of the operations, under the routine guidance of the Defence Headquarters.

•Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Onyeabor Ihejirika.