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Minister of Defence, Muhammad Dan-Ali and the service chiefs spent the Christmas period visiting troops of the Nigerian armed forces at their different operational bases in the north-east.
Dan-Ali was in Damaturu to attend a Christmas lunch with soldiers fighting Boko Haram and assured them of government’s commitment to provide the needed logistics to expeditiously end insurgency in the country.
The defence minister acknowledged some of the challenges being faced by the troops and noted that most of the challenges were being addressed. He also urged the soldiers to uphold the rules of engagement and respect the rights of people in their host communities.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin, commended the troops for their sacrifices and called for more dedication to the task of ending insurgency in the North-East.
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, said the visit of the defence minister would boost the morale of troops in the ongoing operation.
Yobe deputy governor, Abubakar Aliyu, who affirmed that the security situation had improved in the state, added that unlike the previous festivities since the insurgency started, residents were able to celebrate the yuletide without fear of any attack from the insurgents.
On Saturday, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadiq also paid a morale boosting visit to troops in Yola, Adamawa where he enjoined men of the 5 Strike Group Battalion of the Air Force not to relent in their fight against insurgency.
Air Marshall Sadiq also commended the officers and men of the battalion for their efforts in curtailing terrorism in the north-east, especially in providing logistics support in the operations.
“I think, to a large extent, we have substantially degraded their capacity and have been able to meet the deadline. What we are doing now, is just to improve what we have been able to achieve,” the Air Chief said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had pledged to end the Boko Haram insurgency in December 2015. With the Boko Haram attack of 25th December, it remains to b seen if that pledge would be fulfilled, especially as they year will end in a few days.
Story: The Nation
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