raised an Army battalion that would be deployed in the troubled Gambia to forcefully wield the big stick.
Anytime
after January 19, the Army battalion, known as the ECOMOG NIBATT 1 – from the
Army’s 19th Battalion based in Okitipupa, Ondo State – would be deployed in The
Gambia should President Jammeh stand by his threat not to step down.
Premium
Times quoted top military officers as saying that personnel were also drawn
from other formations and units across the country due to shortage of men at 19
Battalion which has a significant chunk of its troops deployed for internal
security task force, Operation Delta Safe.
It also
gathered that the Army Headquarters has instructed the nominated officers and
men, put at over 800, to immediately report at the Nigerian Army School of
Infantry, Jaji, for a crashed course on counter terrorism and counter
insurgency.
A source in
the Army said: “This is an emergency operation, but we are ready.”
“The
Nigerian Army is a strong, professional fighting force battle ready at anytime.
We are so well structured that we can deploy at the touch of a button.
“We did it
in Liberian, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. And Jammeh should know that we are not
a joking force. Once we get the all clear from ECOWAS, the AU and the UN to
move in, we can pick him up.”
President Jammeh, who lost the December 1, 2016 Gambia presidential election to opposition candidate, Adama Barrow, had initially accepted defeat and congratulated Mr. Barrow.
But later he changed his mind and decided to challenge the outcome of the election.
The recalcitrant ruler also vowed not to hand over to the winner as expected on January 19.
0 Comments