Nigerian Army Recruit: 400 Civilian JTF Members Join To Battle Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army has recruited 400 Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members to assist in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists. 

Some of the CJTF members, among whom are hunters are being enlisted into the Nigerian Army’s supper camp strategy in Borno, the worst-hit state by the terrorist gang.

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who commissioned the 400 men, in the presence of Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, said they are the first batch to be recruited by the army.

He said there will be other batches of the Civilian JTF joining forces with the army.

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The Civilian Joint Task Force, a local group that emerged in 2013 to support the Nigerian security forces in the fight against Boko Haram and to protect local communities from attacks by the insurgents, was formalized by the Borno State Government through a collaboration with the military.

The CJTF members were recruited, trained, kitted, deployed, and paid monthly allowances to as incentives.

Zulum promised to continually support the Nigerian military and volunteers in sustained efforts to attain peace and security.

Zulum also approved the donation of 100 motorcycles for the army’s remote operations in the state.

He directed the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan, to provide the motorcycles immediately.

The soldiers use the bikes in chasing insurgents who use motorcycles to escape through remote corners in the bush and some tough terrains that vehicles do not easily access.

Zulum announced the intervention at a brief ceremony in Maiduguri which was attended by military commanding officers from operation Lafiya dole, leading the fight against Boko Haram.

The governor noted that his administration is planning the reconstruction of more towns and villages, which he noted cannot be possible without adequate security.

Zulum renewed his call on Boko Haram insurgents who are hiding in Sambisa Forest and bushes, in the fringes of Lake Chad to lay down their arms and surrender.

“For those that are still in the bush, terrorizing innocent lives and destroying properties, I call upon all of them to surrender.

“You are killing your brothers and sisters, destroying your own infrastructure that was built using money generated through tax from your forefathers.

“Today we have all seen the level of devastation, nobody is been left, we are all affected in one way or another.”

Zulum, along with Buratai, also launched a big poster of wanted terrorists, the 4th to be issued by the army.

Buratai called on members of the public, who know the whereabouts of any of the wanted terrorist, to report to the nearest security outpost.

Top on the list of wanted terrorists are Abubakar Shekau and Abu Al-Barnawi, son of the late founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf.