President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Thursday in Mubi, Adamawa State and Baga, Borno State applauded Nigerian troops for proving their mettle yet again through the rapid recapture of territories formerly held by insurgents in the country’s North-Eastern states.
Addressing officers and men of the Nigerian Army in both towns, of recently recaptured from Boko Haram, President Jonathan declared he and all Nigerians were very happy with the bravery, competence and patriotism with which they certainly were now undertaking operations to expel the insurgents from all elements of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The President stated that making use of their recent successes, which may have overwhelmingly turned the tide against Boko Haram, the Nigerian military has proven beyond any doubt so it remains fully effective at defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria. The military’s recent victories against Boko Haram, President Jonathan told the troops, also have proven conclusively that those, within and outside the nation, who cast aspersions on Nigerian soldiers and questioned their ability and willingness to overcome the insurgents were misinformed and wrong.
President Jonathan, who was simply accompanied on the trip by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki and all of the Service Chiefs, assured the troops that the Federal Government will ensure that they receive all the apparatus and logistics they might need to perform the ongoing mission to reassert government’s effective control over-all areas formerly held by Boko Haram. The President promised the soldiers that most issues pertaining with their welfare is going to be properly and expeditiously addressed. He assured them that they can be duly rewarded because of their bravery and patriotic service to the nation at the successful conclusion of ongoing operations against Boko Haram.
Families of soldiers who’ve sadly lost their lives in battles against Boko Haram is likewise well provided for, the President further assured the troops. The soldiers responded immediately to the President’s address with chants of “Never Again” and assured him that insurgents and terrorists won’t ever again be permitted to take and hold any Nigerian territory. During Mubi, President Jonathan, followed by the Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala Ngilari and the Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Bonnie Haruna, paid a courtesy call on the Emir, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu.
He assured the Emir that the Federal Government can do all within its powers to ensure normalcy is speedily returned to Mubi and other towns and settlements recently recaptured from Boko Haram allow displaced persons return with their homes in the shortest possible time. President Jonathan also undertook an aerial inspection of other towns and areas recently recaptured from Boko Haram including Monguno. Before heading back to Abuja, the President met and conferred with the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri.
