Maj Gen Attahiru Ibrahim was expected to make sure that his troops defeated Boko Haram Islamists militants. Credit/BBC
Nigeria Sacks Boko Haram Fighter
Nigeria’s military, yesterday removed Maj. General Ibrahim Attahiru, the commander leading the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East Nigeria.
He was the Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole. Government has appointed a new Major General to head the military anti-insurgency operation in the North-East.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, confirmed the development to PUNCH, noting that Maj. Gen. Rogers Nicholas has been named as his replacement.
Usman said, “It is true that a new commander has been appointed for Operation Lafiya Dole. I can confirm the appointment.”
Until his new appointment, Nicholas was the Chief of Logistics at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
Although militant authority did not give any reason for his removal, the activities of the dreaded Islamist group have stepped up in the recent times, including the killing of at least 50 people in a mosque last month.
Attahiru had a deadline by Army Chief Gen Tukur Buratai, in July to deliver Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead or alive within 40 days.
The BBC writes that at least 20,000 people have been killed and thousands more abducted since Boko Haram launched its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in 2009.
“President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May 2015 with a pledge to beat back the militants.
About seven months later, he declared that Boko Haram had been “technically defeated” after the army recaptured most territory that had fallen to it.
However, Boko Haram has continued carrying out bomb and gun attacks in the north-east.
In July, more than 40 people died during a military operation to free people who had been ambushed in a convoy by the militants.
The dead included soldiers and an oil exploration team.
Maj Gen Attahiru Ibrahim was appointed to lead the offensive against Boko Haram in the north-east in May this year.
He has been replaced with another general, Nicholas Rogers, who led a special military and police force to tackle ethnic clashes in the volatile central region”, the report said.