IN view of the current war against insurgency in the country, the Nigerian Military has disclosed plans to set up a joint operation headquarters to ensure effective operations between the countries participating in the ongoing counter-terrorism.

The three countries actively involved in the ongoing operations, Nigeria, Chad and Niger are expected to utilise the structure to beef up their Liaison Teams already operating in the mission area.

The decision was reached in Abuja on Monday, at the multilateral meeting of Nigerian, Chadian and Nigerien military delegations on the counter-terrorism campaign.

Nigeria’s Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh who presided over the meeting, directed that the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) is to be established and activated immediately, pending any other structure being put in place at regional and international level with regards to the counter-terrorism efforts.

The arrangement, he said, was to enhance operational and tactical coordination as well as the synchronisation of command, control and communication in the field and the higher headquarters.

According to him, the structure will operate in cognisance with the existing bilateral and multilateral documents and understanding among the countries.

The meeting also resolved to enhance correct reportage of the operations as against the observed trend of sensationalism, propaganda or misleading reports emanating from certain quarters claiming to be reporting the mission.

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 Nigeria’s Service Headquarters were in attendance.