We’ll meet Dec deadline on Boko Haram – CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, said on Wednesday that the military was re-strategising towards winning the war against Boko Haram and meeting the December, 2015 deadline given to the military to end insurgency in the country.

Olonisakin, who made this remark during his tour of military formations and units in Rivers State, explained that his visit to the state was aimed at ascertaining the level of preparedness of troops to fight the current threat to national security.

He pointed out that measures were being put in place to improve military tactics so as to enable Nigerian troops perform better during operations against Boko Haram and other threats to security.

Olonisakin condoled with families of seven soldiers who lost their lives during a gun battle with members of Boko Haram on Tuesday in Damaturu, Yobe State, promising that the military was on top of the situation to forestall any recurrence of the incident.

“The essence of our visit to Port Harcourt is to look at the operational readiness and preparedness of the troops and to see how we can enhance their performances. We are working on the December deadline by Mr. President. We are re-addressing our strategies to ensure we comply with the order.

“I must say that we sympathise with the families of those that have lost their loved ones in that incident. The military is on top of it to ensure that we checkmate such reoccurrences,” Olonisakin said.

Olonisakin was also at the 97 Special Operations Group, Airforce Base, Port Harcourt, with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and other security chiefs, where he had a meeting with security personnel.