How Multinational Joint Task Force operates, by Commander

The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Chikezie Ude, in this interview at the Headquarters of the MNJTF in N’Djamena, Chad Republic, said the force is in need of air lift capability, even as he said the number of civilian casualties due to the activities of terrorists has been greatly […]

The Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Chikezie Ude, in this interview at the Headquarters of the MNJTF in N’Djamena, Chad Republic, said the force is in need of air lift capability, even as he said the number of civilian casualties due to the activities of terrorists has been greatly reduced. He also opened up about the challenges and successes of the recently reinvigorated MNJTF, its fight against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups hiding in border communities along the Lake Chad, Cameroon and Niger republics.

 

Daily Trust: What initiatives have you introduced since you assumed duty as the Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force?

Major General Chikezie Ude: Let me start by saying command is a continuum; there is no break from the past. So there is really no reorganisation that has taken place since I arrived.

Note that the fight against terrorism and insurgency is a very dynamic one; it is a war among the people, so you really cannot have a fixed method or concept of fighting terrorism because of the evolution of the threat.

So we keep up with developments in the field. We have adjusted our operational concept to meet the challenges that we have been confronted with by making the MNJTF to act as a common force; as one force in the sense that we have been able to integrate the forces of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger republics to respond to threats along our common borders and within the Lake Chad Basin.

We are economising resources and concentrating force at the right time and at the right place. What we have done is to emphasise the concept of mobile operations, for obvious reasons, the wide expanse of the area of responsibility, the tactics and the method of operation of the terrorists.

Also, our primary responsibility is to protect the civilian population and set the stage for the stabilisation phase of the operation.

DT: Is there commitment on the part of troop-contributing countries, especially on funds?

Ude: There is no military force that has everything it requires. I would like to have more than I have today, but wars are fought by ways and means, so they determine the concept of operation.

I would say that we are utilising the available resources in the most optimum way to achieve the results we have achieved so far.

MNJTF is primarily financed by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) member nations. We also have support from the international community, the African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and so many other countries.

However, we have challenges, air lift challenges and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance challenges, which are being addressed, but so far, I would say MNJTF has been given the adequate support it requires to perform its responsibility and mandate.

There is disparity across the troop-contributing countries. This is so, obviously because they are different countries. What we do at the MNJTF is to synergise our capability to be able to close gaps.

DT: With disparity in training and nationality, how do the troops embark on joint operations?

Ude: We recognise this, that’s why there is the MNJTF. There is some common understanding because there are processes and procedures we adopt.

We look at the doctrines of the various countries and integrate them during joint operations. It’s a challenging thing but we are getting through that. The result in the field shows the extent of integration we have had so far.

DT: What are the exact successes?

Ude: The primary mandate of the MNJTF is to create a safe and secure the environment affected by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

To significantly reduce violence against civilians, and also abuse of civilians, especially gender-based violence, in line with United Nations (UN) humanitarian laws.

I give you an example, as at 2015, we recorded about 2,000 civilian casualties, but this figure dropped to 573 in 2018.

So when you want to measure the success of these operations, you must benchmark it with the mandate of the mission. This alone attests to the fact that there has been huge success.

No doubt military operations are violent and soldiers lose their lives for this purpose, of providing secure environment for the civilian population.

You can also see that there has been improved security situation in the area of responsibility.

DT: How does the MNJTF operate?

Ude: The MNJTF is made up of four sectors: Sector I is in Cameroon, with headquarters in Mora, Sector II is based in Chad, with Headquarters in Baga-Sola, Sector III is in Nigeria, with headquarters in Baga, and Sector IV is in Niger Republic, with headquarters in Diffa. The headquarters of the entire force is in N’Djamena.

We also have a Benin contingent, a company of troops which provides garrison duties in Ndjamena.

DT: What have been your successes, particularly with recovered territories?

Ude: You would note that before 2015 Boko Haram had some local governments in Nigeria. As at today, there is no place being controlled by Boko Haram within Nigerian territory; which is a huge success.

A fight against insurgency is a fight among the people; it’s an all-inclusive fight. Therefore, defeating terrorism is not by military action alone, it is an all government, all people affair.

I will say that the MNJTF, together with the national forces of the troops-contributing countries have significantly dealt with the threat of Boko Haram.

We have some occurrences of terrorist attacks here and there, but we are dealing with that, and that is what has informed the new concept of mobile operations.

DT: What is the size of the force?

Ude: The MNJTF was first established with a force of 7,600 men, now it’s grown to 10,250 personnel. However, in joint operations, when we conduct together with national forces, depending on the area and which type of operation we conduct, these figures change.

In joint operations in the past two years, we were able to neutralise some sizeable number of terrorists running into thousands. Last week alone, about 93 Boko Haram fighters were neutralised. This is quite encouraging because our responsibility here is to find and destroy the enemy, and we will continue to do that.

DT: What is your current operation?

Ude:  It is code named Operation “Yancin Tafki”. Its primary objective is to free the Lake Chad area. It is imperative that we dominate the lake, being the resource base of the population, and also eliminate Boko Haram in the area.

It is an operation that will last for a long time. We intend to continue these mobile operations to free the lake. This gives us the opportunity to police our common borders.

The gaps that existed between borders of the contiguous nations would be secured and policed, which will set the stage for the stabilisation phase of our mandate.