Video: New Boko Haram war commander tasks officers on leadership

Sunday, December 17, 2017 2:07 pm

Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, has tasked field commanding officers to demonstrate good leadership qualities to ensure successful completion of the counter-insurgency operation in the northeast.

Nicholas gave the charge during an operational visit to the 22 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Dikwa, on Saturday.

He said that it was imperative for commanding officers in the fronts to lead their men well to enable them crush the Boko Haram insurgents.

Nicholas advised the commanders to be creative and demonstrate high sense of discipline in the management of their commands as well as civic military relations.

The commander noted that such initiative was necessary to fast track the campaign, boosts troop’s morale as well as encouraged the insurgents to voluntarily surrender.

“Once you are given responsibility of leadership and command; you must be seen to be leading, you must be seen to be commanding properly. My advice is to tell the junior commanders to always make sure that they lead
their men well.

“And by doing that you are always concern, in touch with them; you are with them in the trenches, you are with them where ever they go, patrols and other things. It is the responsibility of the junior commanders to see that these soldiers do their work professionally.

“We are making serious progress and we dealing with the insurgents very well, it is a good news for all our soldiers so that we can finish this operation as quickly as possible so that they can come back home to their families”.

Nicholas also admonished the soldiers to be discipline, dedicated and conduct themselves professionally in the fight against the insurgents.

The commander warned that the command would not condone laxity and unprofessional conduct on the part of soldiers engaged in the war against Boko Haram insurgents.

Nicholas disclosed that the government had adopted proactive measures to ensure adequate provision of logistics and improvement of soldiers’ welfare.

The commander had also visited troops at 122 Task Force Battalion, Mafa.

The commander was accompanied by the Commander 22 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Salisu Idris, Air Component Commander, Air vice Marshal, Idi Lubo and the Maritime Component Commander, Commodore, Aminu Hassan.