Buhari Gives Vote of Confidence to Military

• Counter-terrorism Efforts in North-east
• Cameroun, Nigerian troops clear Boko Haram terrorists from six villages

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction with the armed forces for their handling of the ongoing operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east and Lake Chad Basin area.

Buhari stated this while inaugurating the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) at the Mambilla barracks in Abuja, where he charged the military to sustain the tempo.
The president who was represented by the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen. Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), stressed that the military policy thrust of his administration was the enhancement of capacity of the armed forces towards maximum operational achievements.

To this end, he assured them of his preparedness to provide the conducive environment that would enable them to perform effectively, optimally and rank among the best in the world.
He said: “We will continue to provide the much needed support to the armed forces for efficient service delivery and effective discharge of your responsibilities.

“I commend the commitment and zeal of the leadership of the armed forces in tackling security issues across the country. I also applaud their successes in the counter insurgency operations in the North-east region and I urge you to sustain the tempo.”
In the same vein, Buhari commended the Nigerian army for the establishment of the Resource Centre, which was formerly known as Nigerian Army Museum and was upgraded by the Civil Military Department of the Nigerian Army.

According to him, there are enormous benefits inherent in the establishment of the Centre, which would serve as a think-tank to provide solution to the problems of the Nigerian military.
“I have been rightly informed that the Centre was established to serve as a think-tank to proffer solutions to identified problems through research and brainstorming that would lead to robust strategies to propel the Nigerian army forward. The wisdom and noble initiative behind the establishment of this Centre by the Chief of Army Staff is quite commendable and legendary,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, revealed that the vision behind the establishment of the resource centre was anchored on the need to optimise the capability of the army.

Buratai also noted that contemporary security challenges in the country and around its borders had stretched the military close to its limits.

He, however, emphasised on the need to optimise the capability of the army to meet emerging security challenges.

“The Nigerian Army Resource Centre is a vision that is anchored on the need to ensure that the army does not only participate in the ground battle but indeed in all terrain to ensure that our adversaries are defeated wherever they are.

“As you are aware, Nigeria faces sundry security challenges, but our main focus has been in counter-insurgency operations in the North-east.”
Speaking further, the army chief assured Nigerians of the army’s readiness in conjunction with sister agencies to rid the country of criminal elements operating in the guise of militants, terrorists and others.

Meanwhile, the troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have in continuation of their efforts to flush out the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists from the Lake Chad Basin Area of Responsibility (AOR), cleared terrorists from six villages along the Nigerian-Camerounian border.
The Chief Military Public Information Officer of the MNJTF, Col. Colonel Muhammad Dole, in a statement yesterday, said the troop of Sector 1 with its relocated tactical headquarters in Makary, northern Cameroun, intensified the clearance operations along the borders between Nigeria and Cameroun to block the fleeing terrorists.

Recently, Dole said the terrorists, in an attempt to escape the firepower of MNJTF troops, were migrating to some villages adjacent to the Sector 1 AOR.

He disclosed that the troops, acting on credible information, “successfully cleared the six villages occupied by the terrorists, seized some logistic equipment and apprehended 24 suspected Boko Haram accomplices.”

According to him, the cleared villages include Sagui, Kirta-Woulgo, Gore Mahamat, Gore Blangafe, Chaugry and Damboure.

He also listed the recovered equipment to include 20 out-boat engines, two motorcycles, nine generating sets, a solar panel, grinding machine, handset, flags and some Islamic religious books.

Dole, however, confirmed that one soldier was killed by Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and another fatally wounded and lost one of his lower limbs during the operation.
He stated that the Commander, MNJTF, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, while addressing the troops during his operational assessment tour in Makary, commended their display of exceptional bravery and charged them to keep up the good work.

The MNJTF spokesman said Adeosun also encouraged the traditional authorities in the area to set up vigilante groups to compliment the effort of the security forces.