Reviewing the Nigerian military in 2021.
While 2021 came with its peculiar challenges...😁
..the Nigerian military overcame these obstacles and continued to make significant achievements that will endure well into the future.
One major highlight of 2021 was transformation and modernization. The Nigerian military continued to transform and modernize its fighting units
This included the introduction of new class of weapons systems such as :
A-29 Super Tucanos.
JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter.
Type 89 tracked amoured fighting vehicles.
2121 was a good year for Nigeria's defence industry. Eleven made in Nigeria weapons platform was showcased in 2021. The two most notable are :
NNS OJI Seaward Defence Boat- SDB III. It is the third in its series to be locally designed and built at the Naval Dockyard.
Proforce PF Viper.
On 8 December 2021 Proforce Defence Solutions unveiled its new Viper armoured personnel carrier, a lighter, faster and more manoeuvrable version of its Ara vehicle.
Following a three year hiatus, the Nigerian Navy reactivated its naval base in Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad, bordering Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. It received its fully operationally capable status SBS Commandos deployed.
It should be recalled that the Baga naval base was attacked by Boko Haram insurgents in December 2018. A surprise attack that saw the terrorists cart away caches of arms and ammunition from the armoury and boats. Forcing troops to withdraw from the base.
Boko Haram commander Mohammed Abubakar bin Shekau was killed after detonating his suicide vest to avoid capture by his rival Abu Musab al-Barnawi on May 19, 2021. It should be noted that al-Barnawi was the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in 2009.
October 14 2021.
"He is dead and remains dead,"
- Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor.
The head of the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) Abu Musab al-Barnawi is killed by the Nigerian military. He is replaced by Malam Bako who vows to avenge the death of Barnawi.
October 28 2021. Two weeks later ISWAPs new commander Malam Bako is killed in an airstrike.
ISWAP appoints a new commander, Abou Maryam. The confusion that ensued after the death of Malam Bako temporarily paralyzed the group. To ensure seamless continuity the new commander..
Abou Maryam was assigned not one, but TWO deputy commanders.
Neutralize the top commander gis deputies are assigned to take his place without the power tusssle that accompanies the death of a top ISWAP commander, temporarily paralyzing the group for days or even weeks.
Three days after his appointment ISWAPS new commander, Abou Maryam narrowly escaped an airstrike. He fled to Niger Republic where he began coordinating attacks on Nigerian troops and soft targets around Damasak, Nganzai Gajiram and the outskirts of Maiduguri.
To avoid detection he began using a Nigèrien phone number +22788036182 to coordinate attacks. He grossly underestimated the capabilities of Nigerian intelligence.
The military began intercepting his communication and his coordination of attacks around the axis of Tumbun
The military was well aware ISWAP had now three commanders and despite knowing his whereabouts the Nigerian military opted not to strike, but instead waited patiently until it could get all three commanders at the same location before carrying out a decapitating strike.
Last week (24, Dec) an ISR aircraft spotted a convergence of ISWAP commanders on the river banks of Bisko and Tumbum Tawaye, and revealed the location of the terror kingpin to air and ground commanders.
The ensuring and well coordinated airstrike killed the ISWAP Commander Abou Maryam, his deputy commanders and other fighters in one fell swoop.
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