By: Kingsley Omonobi-Abuja.
Following recent redeployment of senior officers by Army headquarters, the mantle of command of Operation Lafiya Dole has been handed over by Major General Rogers Nicholas to Major General Abba Dikko at the Headquarters Theatre Command in Maiduguri.

The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday 31July 2018 following the posting of Major General Nicholas to Nigerian Army Resource Centre.

In his valedictory speech during the handover ceremony, General Nicholas said he was glad to hand over command of Operation Lafiya Dole to his successor, Major General Dikko, who he described as a colleague right from their cadetship at the Nigerian Defence Academy, with whom he had served in the Nigerian Army for several years.

Nicholas expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for the opportunity to serve the nation in the capacity of the Theatre Commander of the military outfit conducting Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in North Eastern Nigeria.

He disclosed that his tenure as Theatre Commander turned around the security situation in the North East adding however that this was made possible with the collective effort of the troops and the security agencies.

While urging the new Theatre Commander to carry everyone along in the fight against terrorism, to enable him succeed in his new assignment, Gen Nicholas enjoined all to accord the new Theatre commander the necessary support to facilitate efficient and effective operation against the insurgents.

General Nicholas also thanked the Governor of Borno State, Hon. Kashim Shettima, members of the Borno State Executive cabinet and the good people of Borno state for their support during his tenure.

Responding, the new Theatre Commander, Major General Abba Dikko stated that he was appreciative of the eight months of courageous leadership, common destiny, and the desire to restore peace in the North East, which characterized the tenure of the immediate past Theatre commander.

He urged all Security stake holders to strengthen the bond of relationship among them to further enhance the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the north east.

General Dikko revealed that he is wearing a double cap as the Theatre Commander as well as Commander Operation Last Hold.

During the handover ceremony, the immediate past Theatre commander commissioned the newly constructed Headquarters Theatre Command office complex extension situated adjacent to the Headquarters complex.

While commissioning the project, General Nicholas disclosed that the dearth of office space for staff officers and the need for a conducive working environment made it expedient to embark on the project.

He expressed hope that the new office accommodation will to large extent serve provide succour for staff officers of the Theatre Command.

Dignitaries at the handover ceremony were the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Major General SO Olabanji, General Officer Commanding 7 Division Brig Gen AB Biu, Maritime Component Commander Commodore A Hassan, Air Task Force Commander Air Cdre JMD Gwani, principal staff officers of Headquarters, Theatre Command and 7 Division.

In a similar vein, the Nigerian Army has assured the Vigilante/Hunters Association in Borno state of its readiness to collaborate with the Association in the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North East.

The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Brigadier General Abdulmalik Biu gave the assurance in Maiduguri during a meeting with the members of the Association led by its Chairman, Alhaji Maigana Maidarma.

Biu stated that the meeting was timely and will afford them an opportunity to discuss possible ways towards ending insurgency in the region.

He commended them for their hunting prowess and familiarity of the terrain while urging them to proffer solutions that will help in effectively checkmating the menace of the Boko Haram terrorists.

He reassured them of adequate support from the commanders in the field to aid them in discharging their roles, adding that fighting insurgency needs a collective effort of every individual.

Gen Biu further charged them to provide credible and intelligence information that will assist in the apprehension of the terrorists.

Earlier, the Chairman, Alhaji Maigana Maidarma, assured the Acting GOC of their support and promised to leverage on the Association’s knowledge of Sambisa Forest towards assisting the Army in their operations.

He enumerated some of the challenges confronting the Association to include lack of mobility and weapons to engage the insurgents.

The Chairman expressed delight at the efforts of the present leadership of the Nigerian Army as never witnessed before towards partnering with the Association and pledged their support to surmount the insurgency across the North East.