War Against Boko Haram: Army To Set Up New Force Brigade At Sambisa Forest

Plans may have been concluded by the chief of army staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to establish a new force brigade in the dreaded Sambisa forest. The reason for the establishment of the Special Task Force Battalion in Sambisa is to take the battle to the insurgents in their stronghold and operational domain, The Punch reports. This move is believed to be part of efforts to flush the insurgents out of the forest and prevent them from having territories which they could use to carry out attacks in the Lake Chad Basin area. It is also said to be part of efforts to re-organise the army. According to a security source who spoke in confidence, the planned brigade is to be named the 29th Special Task Force Brigade under 7th Division and their responsibility would be to combat the insurgents in the vast area.You know that the Sambisa Forest is very vast and they are still staging their attacks from the forest. What the Chief wants to do is to establish the brigade in the forest and take the fight to them.
The brigade will be there permanently to go after the insurgents, destroy their stronghold and restore sanity in the area. The troops are very excited about the idea, the source said.
However, a security analyst, Ben Okezie is not in support of the planned establishment of a brigade inside Sambisa forest. Okezie, who said he did not understand the rationale behind the decision, pointed out that the move was unnecessary since the army has a division in Borno state where the forest is located. He added that even the relocation of the command and control centre to Maiduguri may not achieve any result.
According to him, what the army needs to combat Boko Haram were better strategies and they could re-engage retired major generals for their assistance. Boko Haram has launched several attacks in recent times. They have launched four attacks on Buratai, the home town of the COAS in Borno state since the first attack in February 2014.
The army had previously cleared terrorists’ camps in Fadan, Shuwarin, Wulari, Ngoro Dauye, Jidori, Alikashiri, Kalzamari-Shuwa and Kalzamari-Kanuri amongst others.
Yesterday, there were reports that the army had captured a Boko Haram commander and rescued 178 captivities in Bama axis, of Borno state.