The Chiefs of Defence Staff of Nigeria, Chad and Niger today met along with delegations from countries participating in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign to review the progress so far made in the operations conducted by the countries.

Coordinated by Nigeria’s Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh who set the meeting in motion declaring that the essence was to fine tune the coordination of the activities of the collaborative efforts of the operations, the meeting eventually resolved to established a structure for joint planning to enhance the operations and consolidate on the successes so far achieved in the mission with a view to accelerating the tempo of operations.

Accordingly, a Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) is to be established and activated immediately, pending any other structure being put in place at regional and international organisations level with regards to the counter terrorism efforts.   The three countries actively involved in the ongoing operation namely, Nigeria, Chad and Niger are expected to utilize the structure to beef up their Liaison Teams already operating in the mission area.

The arrangement is to enhance operational and tactical coordination as well as the synchronization of command, control and communication in the field and the higher headquarters. The structure will operate in cognisance of existing bilateral and multilateral documents and understanding among the countries.

The meeting also resolved to enhance correct reportage on the operation as against the observed trend of sensationalism, propaganda or misleading reports emanating from certain quarters claiming to be reporting the mission. The authorized spokespersons are to coordinate and facilitate this arrangement.

The meeting had the Chief of Defence Staff of Chad, Lt Gen Brahim Seid Mahamat and Niger’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Seyni Garba leading their countries delegations while Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen KTJ Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, V Adm UO Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AN Amosu and senior officers from Service Headquarters constituting Nigeria’s military delegation at the meeting.