Boko Haram adopting German Army strategy of 2nd World war- EKHOMU

Foremost security expert Dr.  Ona Ekhomu has revealed that the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram is deploying tactics used by the German Army in invasion of France and Russia during the Second World War.

Described the method as “blitzkrieg strategy,” Ekhomu explained that this new terrorist tactic involves the rapid invasion of a state, seizure of the territory and destruction of lives and properties in the captured areas. 

He said: “The Boko Haram strategy is modeled after the invasion method utilized by the German Army in invading France and Russia during the Second World War. Blitzkrieg means “lightning war” and it is the use of incredible speed, coordination and movement to get large mobile forces through weak points in the enemy’s defenses in order to capture territory.”

Reacting to the siege laid to Damaturu on Monday by Boko Haram, Ekhomu, who is the the President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) said that the “blitzkrieg” strategy had been employed successfully by Boko Haram in its ambitious land grab campaign in the North East. 

He added: “blitzkrieg was employed in the capture of Mubi, Hong, Michika, Madagali and other towns and local governments in Adamawa and Borno states. Blitzkrieg is the deployment of terrorist assets in a lighting fashion aimed at overwhelming military defenses and quickly capturing towns and hoisting jihadi flags. It does not matter if the terrorists can’t hold on to the territory.  To them, it is a great moral and military victory. They also often rename the cities as they did to Gwoza and Mubi.”

Ekhomu maintained that the attempt to capture Damaturu was to show its military prowess to the world.  Beyond the symbol, the terrorists would have destroyed a lot of government infrastructure such as government house and other important vital assets in Damaturu.  He pointed to the burning down of the Radio Station in Damaturu as an example of devilish acts which BH planned to carry out in Damaturu.

Ekhomu commended the Military for saving the day and warned politicians against the constant insults, inveighing and derision of the military. 

He said that recently, politicians from Yobe State stated that military presence was not needed in Yobe State and that emergency rule was unnecessary. 

The security expert wondered what would have been the fate of Damaturu if the Federal Government had withdrawn its troops as “recklessly demanded” by politicians who had not conduct threat assessment and vulnerability assessment of Yobe State. Ekhomu said it was the patriotic duty of the Federal legislature to quickly approve emergency powers as requested by the President to enable prompt conclusion of the war on terror.

The new strategy of Boko Haram -- Blitzkrieg -- is based on speed, co-ordination and movement. The strategy depends on the ability to get large mobile forces through weak points in the enemies defences and then cause damage when behind his static lines. With large formations cut off from communication and logistics, pressure could then be put on interior defences. The Boko Haram bliktzkrieg strategy is aimed at creating panic amongst the civilian population. A civil population on the move can be absolute havoc for a defending army trying to get its forces to the war front. With so much focus placed on the frontline, if this could be penetrated then the ensuing doubt, confusion and rumour were sure to paralyse both the government and the defending military.