The Nigerian Army has raised an army battalion that would be deployed in troubled Gambia to forcefully remove President Yahya Jammeh from power if he fails to step down on January 19, 2017.

Ceoafrica gathered that the battalion, christened ECOMOG NIBATT 1, was drawn from the Army’s 19th Battalion based in Okitipupa, Ondo State.

Personnel were also drawn from other formations and units across the country due to shortage of men at 19 Battalion which has a significant chunk of its troops deployed for internal security task force, Operation Delta Safe.

It was further gathered that the Army Headquarters has instructed the nominated officers and men, put at over 800, to immediately report at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, for a crashed course on counter terrorism and counter insurgency.

Army Headquarters has also instructed the Army directorates of policy and plans; finance; and logistics to ready funds, arms, ammunition and other logistics for the operation as the armoured corps is also working hard to ready armoured vehicles needed for the task, officials said.

It was also learnt that the Nigerian Air Force and the Navy might deploy men and equipment for the operation as well.

Top military officers added that the Nigerian Battalion would be deployed in The Gambia any time after January 19, 2017 if President Jammeh makes real his threat not to step down after the expiration of his tenure.

“This is an emergency operation, but we are ready,” one officer said. “The Nigerian Army is a strong, professional fighting force battle ready at any time. We are so well structured that we can deploy at the touch of a button.

“We did it in Liberian, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. And Jammeh should know that we are not a joking force. Once we get the all clear from ECOWAS, the AU and the UN to move in, we can pick him up.”

The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had on December 23 put standby military forces on alert.

The ECOWAS Commission President, Marcel de Souza, said Senegal, The Gambia’s only territorial neighbour, would lead any military operation in the country.

Other West African countries will be mandated to provide troops as well, Mr Marcel De Souza reportedly said.

President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia lost the December 1, 2016 presidential election to opposition candidate, Adama Barrow, and initially accepted defeat to the extent of congratulating Barrow, but thereafter making a U-turn by rejecting the result and called for annulment.  

He also vowed not to hand over to the winner as expected on January 19.

West African leaders, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the chief mediator, are travelling to Gambia tomorrow to persuade Jammeh to accept an “honourable exit plan”.