Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, has ordered troops to recapture Marte.
This is coming days after the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) captured the Army base in Marte, Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
The COAS, on Sunday, gave a 48-hour deadline for troops to recapture Marte from ISWAP and clear adjoining villages in Marte and Ngala local government areas.
HumAngle reports that he gave the directive while addressing troops of the Nigerian Army Super camp in Dikwa.
The Army Chief was reported to have assured the troops of the needed support to carry out the task, which he said must be done within 48 hours.
HumAngle recently reported that the Nigerian Army base located at the Lake Chad Basin Quarters in New Marte was recently by ISWAP.
Although civilians and the military had a presence in New Marte, Old Marte was still considered a hot zone with ISWAP presence.
Giving the order, the COAS said, “I have just spoken to the Theater Commander and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, you must not let this nation down. Go back and do the needful, and I will be right behind you.”
Meanwhile, On Saturday, HumAngle reported that the Nigerian military counter-insurgency headquarters replaced the commander of the 22 Brigade domicile in the super camp in Dikwa after Islamic State insurgents overrun bases in New Marte and Dikwa.
The Army Chief’s order confirmed what the military and political leaders in Nigeria have repeatedly denied; that Boko Haram can still overrun and hold territories despite the government’s position that the terrorists have been “technically defeated” and degraded.
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