Insurgency: Commander pledges continued collaboration between military, civilian JTF

The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Attahiru Ibrahim, says the military will continue to work with the Civilian Joint Task Force in the anti-insurgency war.
Ibrahim made the commitment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
He noted that the military/CJTF operation had performed creditably well in the fight against insurgency.
Ibrahim said: “We will continue to work with the civilian joint task force towards the entire counter-insurgency efforts.
“I believe the civic action being presented by them from that gamut of activities is very well done.”
Similarly, a Maiduguri-based legal practitioner, Jubril Gunda, who is a member of CJTF, said he would not relent to hunt Boko Haram insurgents in the notorious Sambisa forest.
The 54-year-old lawyer told a NAN correspondent that he sacrificed his life in 2009 to fight the insurgents as a member of the task force.
According to him his decision to join the CJTF is due to his patriotic zeal and love for the people.
Gunda said: “We do not have any home apart from Maiduguri.
“Borno is a land of peace we must do anything humanly possible to bring lasting peace in the state.
“I have lost many friends and family members to the insurgency.
“Several CJTF members also lost their lives fighting the insurgents.
“We remain resolute and focus on ensuring that peace returned to our dear state.
“It is quite a challenge to combine my legal practice, and at the same time fight the insurgents, despite these challenges; I sacrificed my life to defend my people.”
Gunda said he participated in the light arms handling and combat operations training of the military noting that it better prepared him to confront and defeat the insurgents in various operations.
He said: “I am also part of the security response team on Boko Haram terrorism.
“Whenever there is a bomb blast or attack I grab my gun and run to the scene on time. This is the job I am doing and I like it.”
On his legal practice, Gunda said he also operates a law firm with seven lawyers and other supporting employees.
He said: “I also provide free legal services to the CJTF members and IDPs especially in cases bordering on abuse and civic rights violation.”
NAN reports that about 680 members of the CJTF lost their lives with several others wounded in the anti-insurgency campaign in the past four years in the state.