Feature: Nigerians excited by military command's moving to Boko Haram stronghold

Many Nigerians have expressed their excitement on the recent relocation of the West African nation's military command and control center to the northeastern Borno State, epicenter of Boko Haram's violence, for the counter- insurgency operation in that region.

Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari had on May 29, during his inauguration as the fifth elected president of the African most populous country, directed the movement of the military command for the fight against Boko Haram from Abuja, the nation's capital, to Maiduguri, birthplace of the terror group.

The nation's military high command last Tuesday arrived Maiduguri for the battle ahead. The military top brass, headed by Adesola Amosu, the air force chief and Kenneth Minimah, the army chief, told reporters shortly after their arrival in the troubled Maiduguri city that the command center was set for the enormous task ahead "in compliance to the president's order."

Abba Kalli, a leader of the government-backed youth vigilant group, described the relocation as heartwarming.

"It is a good beginning in the fight against insurgency," he told Xinhua Friday.

The youth volunteer force leader further urged military commanders to be engaged in the fight and "not just sit at control rooms."

Musa Sanni, a university student, said he was excited like his other friends, when he heard the news of the movement of military command to Maiduguri for war against Boko Haram.

"We are happy about the relocation of the military command to Maiduguri and Yola. This is what we have been expecting for about two years now. There is no way the military leaders can understand the Boko Haram crisis outside the field of war," he said.

A local farmer and retired security personnel, Ahmed Umara, said he believes the presence of military command and control at the theater of the insurgency will boost performance of troops.

"We should expect improved performances from our troops on the field because command of operation has been brought closer to them rather than the initial arrangement where commanders have to send signal and wait for order," he added.

A Xinhua reporter in Maiduguri said the mood among most residents was high, even as they hoped the fight against insurgency by the military forces would receive a fresh vigor with the new arrangement.

Nigeria has code-named its operation against Boko Haram "Zaman Lafiya", meaning "peaceful living", when translated to the English language from the local Hause language.

In a statement by the army early this week, authorities explained that the military command center is essentially an elaboration of an already existing army headquarters and control arrangement, adding "from now on, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from this center."

An alternate command center is also being established in Yola, the capital of neighboring Adamawa State, according to the army statement.

Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have been most-hit by the insurgency of Boko Haram which started its mindless killings in 2009. More than 13,000 people, including women and children, have been killed as the group seeks to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in the most populous African country. Endi