10th September, 2013
By Chris Olukolade
Boko Haram, a religious sect which had emerged by taking advantage of democracy–the system of government which gives room for free speech and assembly–had metamorphosed into a terrorist group. They took up arms, committed murder with impunity, destructing and challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria. The sect has not only succeeded in abusing the laudable ideals of democracy but has created enemies among people united under common goal-keeping Nigeria as an indivisible entity.
To make their objective known, flags designed by the insurgent group were hoisted in replacement of Nigeria’s national flag. Schools were shut down or taken over for terrorists’ use. Facilities for boosting the nation’s economy such as the Chad Basin Development Authority were taken over along with all their sophisticated machineries by the terrorists. Surely, no responsible government would turn a blind eye to the unacceptable degree of crimes against humanity being perpetrated by Boko Haram. Indeed having attained the status of a very dangerous organisation having in its possession, lethal weapons such as Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, assorted assault rifles, anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers etc, the declaration of emergency had literally become inevitable for the government. And so it came.
Making the declaration on Tuesday 14 May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan, certainly not unaware of the consequences of the application of emergency power, directed Nigeria’s security forces to arrest the chaotic situation in those affected states. The President specifically charged the country’s Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, to mobilise the entire security forces of this nation and move against the onslaught of the marauding terrorist gangs. “Take all necessary actions within the ambits of the law to put an end to the impunity of lawlessness and terrorist activities in that part of the country,” President Jonathan charged the CDS in his broadcast to the nation.
Within 24 hours of the declaration and in line with the presidential order, troops made up of the country’s armed forces supported by the police, the State Security Service and other security delivery agencies, were deployed to carry out an extensive military operations within the ambit of Rules of Engagement to secure the nation’s borders and assert the territorial integrity of the Nigerian nation. Troops of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the affected areas were reinforced with men and equipment. Three months down the line, what has the operation achieved?
The threat to Nigeria’s unity, territorial integrity and usurpation of the authority of the Nigerian State was a major prevailing concern before the order for a more robust military intervention in the terrorists’ uprising or crisis. Indeed, prior to the declaration, some parts of North-eastern states of the country were literally under the control of terrorist elements operating an Afghan Taliban-style system of authority. However, intelligence reports were able to confirm the existence and location of more than 30 camps and enclaves of insurgents from where undue control was being asserted over some communities. Nigerians were held under a barbaric spell where human beings were slaughtered and body parts severed in terrorist camps. Arson, destruction of property, raping of women and forceful marriage of young girls were the order of the day. It is noteworthy that a notable halt was put to this situation within two weeks of the operation.
Three months into Operation BOYONA emplaced to support the Emergency Rule, the military has effectively destroyed all the identified insurgent camps and enclaves located around Maiduguri, Konduga, Bama, Ngala, Marte, Kerenowa, Yusufari, Gashua, Kanama, Geidam, Mubi, Maiha and other places in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. The adjoining surrounding communities were accordingly secured after insurgents were dislodged. Items such as hard drugs, weapons and logistics for terrorist activities were found stockpiled in those camps. The import of this development would be better understood when it is noted that the influence and strength of Boko Haram insurgents was at its peak from the fact that they had sanctuaries where their operations were planned and coordinated. Furthermore, the operation has succeeded in denying the terrorists the freedom of action they used to exude by holding territories from where they proceeded to attack, kill and maim citizens unchallenged. The ability of the terrorists to sit and coordinate their efforts in carrying out successful attacks has been effectively curtailed with the security operations emplaced by the State of Emergency declaration. Indeed, the capacity of the terrorists to achieve the mission of carrying out massive destruction, especially outside their usual locations, has been seriously degraded. The reduction in the rate of attack across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, is a case in point.
The Special Forces have, in the past three months, tackled head-on, the challenge of recovery of arms and ammunition. Arms proliferation has been substantially reduced. A lot of arms have been recovered or seized through mop-up and series of cordon-and-search operations. This has drastically reduced the danger faced by the people from the rampaging armed men. Assorted brands and calibre of weapons, including anti-aircraft guns, rockets, rifles, IED, anti-tank weapons, various ammunition, are being recovered in the course of cordon and search. With this level of detection and reduction, future security situation looks better. This is a major gain of the emergency rule.
Another significant achievement of the operation is the arrest and detention of many suspected high-profile insurgents which include, but not limited to, insurgents, senior commanders, financiers, mentors or their sympathisers including doctors among others. So far, those arrested and detained by the Special Forces are being charged to court. Many resources, including trained dogs, facilitated the arrest of hundreds of insurgents who were trying to infiltrate liberated areas. Top leaders including those who specialise in recruiting minors into their fold have also been arrested. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has set up an investigation team to ascertain the degree of involvement of each detainee with a view to making recommendations that would facilitate the release of innocent persons.
Peace and confidence-building mechanism put in place is already enhancing the success of the operation. One of the gains of the confidence-building processes is that civilians are more than before willing not only to volunteer information on suspected individuals in their vicinity but are physically involved in apprehending terrorists. Prior to the operation, local and foreign observers of events in Nigeria had questioned the propriety or otherwise of military solution to the Boko Haram insurgency. These concerns were not unconnected with the ability of the armed forces and the security allies to observe Rules of Engagement. Some observers suggested from some quarters that the President was on a revenge mission apparently to square up on perceived political enemies.
Conscious of these concerns, the Defence Headquarters has put in place a military and feedback mechanism to gauge the conduct of the operations. Accordingly, Assessment Team made up of senior military officers visit the mission areas regularly and render situation report to appropriate administrative authorities. Occasional media tours for on-the-spot assessment of the operation were also undertaken. Apart from ensuring that forces in this operation were quite conversant with the Rules of Engagement, constant monitoring was emplaced to ensure there was no violation, and to sanction perpetrators accordingly. With regards to the disruption of telecommunication services, the facility has been restored in two states where security situation has improved.
The security forces have continued to demonstrate high level of professionalism especially in the application of minimum force and adherence to the rules of engagement. The conventional and civilised training within the recommendations of the Geneva Conventions of 1954 and the fact that those involved are fellow Nigerians has informed the disposition of the forces. This way, all terrorist camps located near towns were systemically identified and destroyed without incurring unnecessary collateral damage. With the concerted efforts of the Air Force and the Army supported by other security forces, most of the camps were captured and destroyed within a few days of the operation. Subsequent efforts have been focused on patrols, cordon-and-search as well as mop-up operations to prevent the infiltration of the communities by fleeing insurgents.
The effective recovery and protection of government assets, which were hitherto main targets of the insurgents, is another indication of the value of the success of this operation. Before the state of emergency, socio-economic activities in the affected states had been seriously disrupted. The nation was literally under a ferocious siege. Governmental structures, institutions and functions in parts of the federation, especially at the local levels, had been paralysed. Local Government offices were closed; staff were stopped from going to work. Some local government authorities were literally sacked. Police stations were overrun by the insurgents. At the moment, normalcy has returned to the affected areas.
Another challenge which was tackled by the operation was resuscitation of Joint Border Patrol. Prior to the declaration of State of Emergency, the insurgents had firm control of border communities in the affected states. Apart from the troops of the Armed Forces, personnel from other security agencies are actively involved in the internal security arrangement where they jointly operate with flexible cooperation, especially in patrolling the nation’s borders throughout the operation. This operation has shown that it was possible for security agencies to work together for the common good of Nigeria. There is improved cooperation and collaboration among security agencies in the bid to stamp out insurgency in the country.
The totality of successes attained has also contributed a great deal to the establishment of conditions that counter ideological support to the insurgents, especially through the Mass Media. The current situation throughout the mission area remains conducive for the conduct of Civil-Military-Relations, CMR. Already, command of the mission as part of counter ideological measures, has been focusing on winning hearts and minds of the locals by reaching out to the locals with relief materials through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. The presence of humanitarian agencies like NEMA was made possible by the creation of safe window for distribution of relief materials to the internally displaced persons.
The three-month special operations have also enhanced public enlightenment and awareness on security. There is now a fair level of consciousness on the importance of security all over the country. Citizens are becoming increasingly conscious in their civic responsibility by reporting strange faces in their areas. It has also inculcated in them the spirit of brotherliness, proactive security consciousness and the need to fight for the unity of the country. The emergence of groups such as Borno Youth Vigilante and Volunteer Groups, otherwise known as Civilian JTF, is a case in point. In the areas of confidence-building, the people now appear to have more faith in government’s security measures as against the apathy exhibited at the onset of the operation.
With relative peace in the affected states, OP BOYONA is undoubtedly a success. Business and socio-economic activities have begun to blossom once again. There is also improved international understanding and appreciation of the peculiarity of Nigeria’s security situation. Before the declaration, it was believed that the country lacked the ability and capacity to manage its internal security situation. On the accusation of human rights abuse from some quarters, the security forces have been vindicated by the reports of the International Criminal Court, ICC. The report indicted Boko Haram of crime against humanity punishable under the ICJ protocol
Altogether, a high degree of goodwill has been generated for the Nigerian military and security agencies in the fight against insurgency. The days of better security are certainly near with the decimation of the terrorists and destruction of their structures by the military and security agencies. Thanks to the declaration of state of emergency, and Operation BOYONA.
– Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade is the Director, Defence Information