Nigerian military forms new brigade to fight Boko Haram: chief

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday said a new Task Force Brigade in restive northeast town of Beneshiek in Borno State was strategically established to end insurgency.

Buratai made the remarks while addressing soldiers deployed to the new brigade in Beneshiek and Ngamdu.

This location is very important and strategic, he said, noting that the new Task Force has great impact toward defeating the Boko Haram group.

"You are better trained and equipped than the criminals and you have to be professional and responsive," he added.

"You should have no excuse not to be on patrol, ambush or raid operations," he said.

The army chief assured the troops that government would provide them with all the necessary kits and equipment to facilitate their success to end insurgency.

Buratai charged the soldiers to apply tactics, battle procedure and fire discipline.

He assured the civil population that the army would maintain high standard of professionalism in the course of its duties.

Meanwhile, Tunde Ogunsakin, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 12, has charged men of the Borno command to be proactive on the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

Ogunsakin gave the task in Maiduguri, the northeast state capital while fielding questions from newsmen on the sidelines of his visit to the state.

The police chief said he was in the state to boost the morale of the men of the command especially in their battle against the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to him, the insurgents are more dangerous now than before as witnessed by the numerous explosions in mosques in the Northeast region.

He said the insurgents would soon be history but Nigerians needed to be alert to the new threat of the terrorist group. Endit