Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, yesterday, unveiled a new Civilian JTF mobile team to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the state. He said the Army killed or arrested about 66.6 per cent of the fourth batch of the 86 Boko Haram terrorists that were declared wanted.
Announcing the new Civilian JTF mobile team at Chabbal Super Camp, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai disclosed that the volunteers know Borno State terrain and Boko Haram terrorists in the state.
He said members of Civilian JTF would be identifying terrorists’ enclaves, as they move from one position to another, adding: “It is important that we get them to play that important role in identifying the terrorists.”
He said the Army would collaborate with Civilian JTF, stressing that the counter-insurgency operations should not be left to military alone and that its success did not fully lie with the military, but with civilian authorities and volunteers fighting the insurgents.
Buratai commended Governor Zulum for releasing courageous, fearless and determined patriots that understood the vision of returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to communities.
He said volunteers along with troops and other security agencies would work towards returning Internally Displaced Persons IDPs to their ancestral homes, maintaining that Civilian JTF will remain in the liberated communities to defend IDP returnees.
“At the height of Boko Haram insurgency in 2013 and 2014, these civilians, comprising youths in Maiduguri metropolis said: “Enough is enough. They took up arms against the terrorists and started chasing them from house to house.
“That is how the terrorists were chased out of Maiduguri and other major towns of Borno into the Sambisa Forest and other places and that started the Civilian JTF,” he stated.
He said since then they have been playing important role to ensure that the insurgents are contained and have not relented.
In his inauguration speech, Zulum said the state government would continue to support the military to complement efforts of troops in restore peace in the state and the Northeast region.
Zulum, who donated another 100 patrol motorcycles to the Civilian JTF team, said: “I call on the people to support and cooperate with the military and other security agencies to end the madness of insurgents.”