Retired Major General John Enenche has disclosed that the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, once told him he was prevented from carrying out a planned military operation against terrorists in Nigeria’s North-East.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Enenche said Attahiru, his course mate, expressed frustration over an order that allegedly stopped troops from attacking a terrorist position despite being prepared to launch the operation.
Recalling their conversation, Enenche said, “There was a time when my course mate, Attahiru of blessed memory, was Chief of Army Staff and there was something he wanted done in time in the North-East.”
He added: “I was still in service then and he was saying, ‘Enenche, can you see, we want to take out these people and they said the instruction is that we should not attack that position.'”
Enenche did not identify who allegedly issued the directive, the reason behind it, or the location and timing of the proposed operation.
The retired general said the incident highlighted the operational constraints military commanders can face in counterterrorism efforts. He stressed the need for timely decision-making, reliable intelligence, adequate equipment, and stronger collaboration among political leaders, military commanders, and intelligence agencies to effectively combat evolving security threats.
