The Nigerian Navy is planning to set up an operational base along the Lake Chad Basin as a strategy to effectively defeat Boko Haram terrorists.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, made this disclosure on Monday at one of the activities to mark the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Nigerian Navy in Maiduguri.
At the event held at one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, The Chief of Naval Staff who was represented by the Chief of Navy Admin., Rear Admiral Obiara Medini said that as part of the ongoing counter-insurgency war, fleeing elements of the Boko Haram terrorist group from the Sambisa Forest must be arrested.
“In order to achieve this, the Nigerian Navy is setting up ‘Operational Base’ along the off shores of Lake Chad Basin area purposely to apprehend these terrorists from their hideouts,” he said.
The Navy Chief also paid a courtesy visit to the Government House Maiduguri where he was received by Alhaji Usman Durkwa, Borno State Deputy Governor.
The Naval Officer said he was in the state to officially launch and inaugurate the 2016 Medical Rhapsody at Dalori Camp II, where over 5,000 orphans and widows are accommodated as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.
He said: “In continuation of the Nigerian Navy Diamond Jubilee Celebration Medical Rhapsody, the Chief of Naval Staff has chosen Dalori Camp II in Maiduguri as venue for the event this year,
“We are giving IDPs free medical services in camps, drugs, food items, clothing materials and other relief materials as part of our corporate social responsibility and civil relations.”
He added that “the Nigerian Navy has concluded arrangement for the establishment of its Operational Base in Lake Chad Basin area purposely to address the issue of Boko Haram in our territories.”
Responding, the Deputy Governor thanked the Navy for identifying with victims of insurgency in the state, particularly now that most IDPs are warming up to return to their liberated communities, and promised that the state Government will continue to support the military to end the Boko Haram menace.
The Deputy governor thereafter accompanied the Naval Team to Dalori Camp along Maiduguri- Bama road were the programme was officially flagged off with the treatment and presentation of drugs to IDPs.