Nigeria and her West African collaborators against the insurgency in the North-East, Chad and Niger, have decided to establish a Joint Operations Headquarters.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement on Monday that the decision to set up the centre was reached at the meeting of military chiefs from the three countries held to ensure effective coordination of the collaborative efforts against the terrorists.

The Defence spokesman said the meeting convened by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, was attended by military chiefs from Nigeia, Chad and Niger.

They are the Chief of Defence Staff of Chad, Lt Gen Brahim Mahamat; his Nigerien counterpart, Lt Gen Seyni Garba, who led the delegations of their respective countries; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, and other senior officers of the military.

He added that the meeting resolved to establish a joint operation structure for enhanced operations and to consolidate on the gains recorded against the insurgents.

Olukolade explained that the JOH was put in place to promote better liaison among the three countries involved in the operations against the terrorists pending the establishment of structures expected to be put into place at the regional and international levels against terrorism.

He said, “Accordingly, a Joint Operations Headquarters is to be established and activated immediately, pending any other structure being put in place at regional and international organisations level with regards to the counter terrorism efforts.

“The three countries actively involved in the ongoing operation, namely: Nigeria, Chad and Niger, are expected to utilise the structure to beef up their Liaison Teams already operating in the mission area.

“The arrangement is to enhance operational and tactical coordination as well as the synchronisation of command, control and communication in the field and the higher headquarters. The structure will operate in cognisance of existing bilateral and multilateral documents and understanding among the countries.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/boko-haram-nigeria-chad-niger-set-up-operation-office/