LEADING NIGERIA’S MILITARY TO RECLAIM LOST TERRITORIES

Chinwe Ugwu pays tribute to Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff and a courageous officer

Unlike politicians, military officers and men are hardly celebrated no matter the contribution they have made to nation-building. Hence, their achievements are always hidden and not flaunted. But it is axiomatic that the Nigerian military has played a significant role in keeping this nation one and it has produced some of the finest officers; and this has been acknowledged globally. When President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated as the 19th leader of this great nation on May 29, 2015, it was a fact that the dreaded Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram had firm control of some local government areas and over 25 towns in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States. In fact, as at September 2014, the Archbishop of Maiduguri Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Oliver DasheDoeme had acknowledged that although the government and Boko Haram both claimed control of these areas, the exodus of people from the towns and villages was an indication that the Islamists had the upper hand. According to the Archbishop at the time, Boko Haram had “armoured tanks, armoured personnel carriers, rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank weapons, sub-machine guns, new and latest AK47, and inexhaustible boxes of ammunitions and bullets.”

However, a few months into the administration, the military was more than ever before motivated and gingered to take on the terrorists head on. Hence, the era when acts of indiscipline or cowardice from many military men were the order of the day is history. The military is now better positioned and soldiers are more proactive and respond quickly and promptly to distress calls and emergency security situations.

Today, it is indisputable that Boko Haram has been degraded and all the territories recovered from them. Now, it is pretty difficult for Boko Haram terrorists to freely unleash their lethal weapons in bombing motor parks, shopping malls, mosques, churches, schools, hospitals, banks, markets and offices in Abuja, the Northeast and other parts of the north. They can no longer annex Nigerian territories and declare these areas Boko Haram “Islamic Caliphate.” This herculean and enviable assignment was undertaken under the able leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, who was appointed by the president and given the clear mandate to liberate Nigerian territories and wipe out Boko Haram in the country. On assumption of duty, Olonisakin went into action with his colleagues, the service chiefs and other security agencies and cleared several Boko Haram camps and destroyed many equipment used by the insurgents. While uncountable terrorists have been killed in various communities and forests and many are being killed every day with many more victims freed, the Nigerian military has not rested on its oars. On December 22, 2016, the last component of the Boko Haram insurgents from the Sambisa forest was displaced at the “Camp Zero”. The gallant troops also dismantled the official Boko Haram terrorists’ flag signifying the capture of the insurgents’ headquarters. The fall of dreaded Sambisa is a major milestone in the fight against insurgency. The Sambisa forest, which was a no-go-area before the appointment of Olonisakin as defence chief, is today a museum of the Nigerian military. Several military installations are now firmly in place in the once dreaded forest and people could now walk in and out of it freely. For example, on June 8, 2016, Nigerian troops conducted fighting patrols and cleared the following villages: Kircha, Gonye, Wujjal, Alkelu, Kita JIiddum, Goniye, Jameri, Gerigana, Gerekura, Jabe, HassanaJere and Chachile. During the patrol, two Boko Haram terrorist were killed while others fled.

Another indelible milestone achieved by the military under the leadership of Olonisakin is the release of some of the abducted Chibok school girls. Many of the girls who were captured in April 2014, have been rescued and some of them have graduated from schools in different parts of the world while others have since reunited with their families.

Olonisakin, working in collaboration with military authorities from neighboruing countries such as Cameroun, Chad and Niger was able to force out Boko Haram out of Sambisa to Lake Chad Basin. The Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) comprising Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon has since been able to flush out the Boko Haram terrorists at the far northern fringes of Borno State and the Lake Chad Basin. Under the leadership of Olonisakin as chief of defence staff, the air component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has become very much effective and reliable, providing air support for operations.

Of course, under the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian military was being ostracised by most western countries and in fact, very crucial nations like the US had denied Nigeria access to purchase of vital arms to fight Boko Haram. But with a clear-cut focus and military diplomacy, Olonisakin has been able to warm Nigerian military into the hearts of the US. Only last year, Olonisakin, along with several of his most senior military officers, met with Gen. David Rodriguez, commander, U.S. Africa Command and AFRICOM component commanders to discuss strategies for security cooperation. The purpose of the visit was to reinforce the importance of a strong US-Nigeria security cooperation relationship. Topics for discussion focused on ways to counter terrorism, joint operations, logistics and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Born on Dec 2, 1961 in Kaduna, although an indigene of Gboyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Olonisakin began his military career in 1973 at Nigerian Military School Zaria. He was later admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy and commenced cadet training on January 1979, as a member of 25 Regular Combatant Course. Gen. Olonisakin was later commissioned on December 18, 1981 as a Second Lieutenant and was posted to Nigerian Army Signals Corps.

In the course of his career, the general attended various military courses, attaining highly decent grades with several awards. The courses amongst others include; Young Officers Course (Signals), Young Officers Course (Infantry), Squadron Commanders Course, Communication Management Course and Commanding Officers Course (Infantry). Others include Regimental Commanders Course; Junior Staff Course, Senior Staff Course as well as National War College (National Defence College).

A highly educated professional military man, he holds degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BSc Electronic Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Diploma Electronic and Telecoms Engineering also from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, with specialties in Telecommunication Engineering, Power Engineering, Satellite Communications and Control.

The General also held various key appointments in Command, Staff and Instruction appointments among which are Director, Nigerian Army System Development Centre Lagos; Director, Department of Army Data Processing; Commander, 51 Division Signals Kaduna and Commander 59 Division Signals Lagos. He was Commandant Nigerian Army School of Signals, Commander Corps of Signals and until his current appointment, Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). The General also holds Staff appointments some of which are: Grade II Staff Officer Operations/Training (G2 Ops/ Trg) Nigerian Army School of Signals and also Military Assistant to Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College. General Olonisakin was at one time an Instructor – Nigerian Army School of Signals, a Directing Staff, Armed Forces Command and Staff College as well as Aid-de-Camp To Governor Lagos/Ogun State

Olonisaki has equally participated in various operations home and abroad. Notable among the operation he has participated is United Nations Angola Verification Mission ( UNAVEM III). During this period the Force Commander recognised him as a gentleman officer with sterling leadership qualities. A successful family man, he is happily married and blessed with children. Hon. Ugwu is the Executive Director, Centre for Reform Education Initiative