Defence Minister, Service Chiefs visit military formations in Borno, pledge to end terrorism
Defence Minister, Service Chiefs visit military formations in Borno, pledge to end terrorism
Story from Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has pledged to boost troops’ morale and welfare on the ongoing counter-terrorism operations to end the lost of lives and property in the North-East.
According to him, the Nigerian Armed Forces will adopt more strategies on routing remnants of Boko Haram terrorists from the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region.
Abubakar made the pledges on Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while assessing military formations, along with the Chief of Defense Staff, Maj-Gen, Christopher Musa and Service Chiefs of the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy.
He said, “Today’s visit to Maiduguri, with the Chief of Defense Staff and Service Chiefs; was to talk to the troops and learn on how remnants of insurgents could be routed to restore peace in the region and the country at large.”
The Minister noted that putting an end to insurgency would enable the people restore their destroyed livelihoods in the over a decade Boko Haram insurgency.
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While addressing the troops at the Maimalari Cantonment, the Minister said: “Besides your moral boost, I commend you for taking the bullets to the frontlines to restore peace in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.”
He also applauded Governor Babagana Zulum for providing many patrol vehicles and other logistics in degrading the insurgents that surrendered to the Army in the last two years.
Abubakar also commended troops in the frontlines for taking the bullets, in order to bring a lasting peace across the country.
On the state of security in Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum, said: “I have gone round some nooks and crannies of the state in the last two weeks. The reports reaching me from traditional rulers, indicated that peace is being restored.”
He, therefore commended President Bola Tinubu, the Ministers of Defense and the four Service Chiefs for a job well done.
He said, “We’re still soliciting for more support from the military with synergy and courage from the security agencies to take the fight to the hideous of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Lake Chad region and Mandara Mountains.”
He noted that the non-kinetic approach of operations, has led to the surrendering of over 160, 000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families.
“We will continue to give our maximum support towards the restoration of peace in the state,” he said.
Other military formations visited for assessment included the Military Hospital, Theatre Command, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) and the Giwa Barrack, where an undisclosed number of Boko Haram fighters are detained for terrorists’ activities.