The Nigerian Army on Saturday established a motorbike battalion which according to Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, would add impetus to the army's war on insurgency in the Northeast.
Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai; credit: theheraldng
Buratai while launching the Motorbike Battalion of the Nigeria Army at the 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa in Borno State, said the introduction of the combat motorbikes is to ensure that "our roads are safe."
He said the combat motorbikes would have a force multiplier effect and give the military an edge in the ongoing counter-insurgency war in the North-east as troops would be able to pursue Boko Haram anywhere.
The Army equally released a fresh list of 100 suspected members of the terrorist sect wanted for various acts of terrorism in the country.
In 2015, the Army released a similar list of 100 suspected members of the terrorist sect declared wanted by the Nigerian state.
The Army on Saturday also reopened the major road leading to Maiduguri, the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road closed to traffic for over two years as a result of the surge of insurgency in the area.
Concerning the road, Buratai said:
"The safety on this road is in care of the Brigade Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade. I do not want to hear any attack on this road, motorists plying this road must be safe."
The COAS appealed to the public to come out with information that will assist in the arrest of terrorists, adding that many terrorists in the first list of 100 wanted have been identified and arrested.
Story: Punch