Nigerian Army’s Sports Initiative in Sambisa Forest

In a move to de-radicalize the youths in Boko Haram prone North east, the army has taken measures to employ sports to promote peace

The Nigerian Army has over time proved to be one of the most reputable fighting forces in the world. It once more lived up to its reputation by bringing the Boko Haran terrorists which have been holding the North Eastern region of the country almost by the jugular for years to their knees recently. To underscore its victory over the terrorists, the Army captured their main theatre of operation, the Sambisa Forest in a major victory last year, Since taking charge most of Sambisa Forest, which used to be Boko Haram’s stronghold in Borno State, the Nigerian Army has held a number of activities there like a football competition and marksmanship tournament all aimed at deradicalising the youths of the area.

In a move that shows the army’s grip on the area is getting stronger, the Nigerian Army organised Football Competition for the youths in the area towards the end of last year. The youths in Gubio Local Government Area of the state were encouraged by the Eight Task Force Division of the Nigerian Army to take part in the competition called the “Tukur Buratai Football Tournament”. Aside from being the army’s way of meaningfully engaging the youths in the area to stop them from being radicalised and recruited by Boko Haram, they employed the competition to build on the relationship between the military and the civilians.

The tournament kicked off on September 16 with 16 teams taking part. The youths in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State were organised by the Nigerian Army into 16 teams in a football competition in the Sambisa Forest area. Throwing more light on the football tournament, The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Timothy Antigha, who said the football competition in Gubio, northern Borno, was the brainchild of the Nigerian Army said the step was to enhance civil-military relations. He said, “It is part of our operations to meaningfully engage the youths in our area of responsibility. The division initiated a football competition tagged, Tukur Buratai Football Tournament. The tournament is aimed at fostering civil-military cooperation, as well as winning the hearts of youths who constitute a significant segment of the local population.

“Most importantly, the tournament seeks to make vulnerable youths in the communities unavailable for Boko Haram radicalisation and recruitment. The tournament which kicked off on September 16, had 16 teams drawn from northern Borno. On the football tournament, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Timothy Antigha, who confirmed the football competition in Gubio, northern Borno, said the step was to enhance civil-military relations. It was not only football that the Army organized in the Sambisa Forest to show its full control of the territory which the terrorists used as launch pad against Nigeria. Lt.-Gen.Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, explained further that the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship was also held in Sambisa Forest to consolidate the army’s grip on the area.

Buratai announced this while speaking with newsmen on the final arrangements for the event in Maiduguri. According to the Army Chief, “We have been in the North East, fighting the Boko Haram terrorists, and you know the significance of the Sambisa Forest to them. “It used to be one of their centres; in fact, we suspect that their command and control centre was located there before its eventual capture,’’ the COAS said. He added that following the eventual capture of camp Zairo, the Army wanted to consolidate its operations by ensuring that the place was secured. “We also want the place to be dominated by our troops and also to get firm control, so that we will continue to dominate the area’’.

Buratai said that the championship was part of the training activities of the Nigerian Army, aimed at sharpening marksmanship of its personnel.

“The Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship is part of the training activities held last year. “It is a championship among the formations of the Nigerian Army. In a related development the Army said it has commenced road construction into the heartland of Sambisa forest. The forest was being used as a hideout by Boko Haram terrorists. Sani Kukasheka, Director of Army Public Relations, in a statement explained that the development is part of the ongoing clearance operation to dislodge remnants of the sect.

Kukasheka said the army had begun construction of access roads to open the forest and link adjourning communities. He listed the projects as Gwoza-Yamtake-Bita-Tokumbere-Sambisa and Gwoza-Yamtake-Bita roads. “In its efforts to make Sambisa forest habitable and also training ground, the Nigerian Army is following up the ongoing clearance operations with road construction into main heartland of the forest and adjoining communities,” Kukasheka said.“Already, work has commenced in earnest on Gwoza-Yamteke-Bitta road, as well as the reconstruction of the road from Gwoza-Yamteke-Bitta-Tokumbere, leading into Tokum forest.