By Dauda R Pam Maiduguri
The new Chief Army Staff, COAS, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Monday, has expressed optimism that the war against the Bokoharam insurgency will soon become to an end.
The COAS stated this while on operational visit to commands and formations of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE in MAIDUGURI, pointed out that his visit will afford him the opportunity to assess critical operational issues bedevilling the the theatre with a view to tackling them to ensure that bokoharam terrorist activities are brought to an end.
He said the Nigerian Army will collaborative with security organizations from neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Niger and Chad republics, in order to finally annihilate insurgency in the country.
According to him, “The entire process is that when you take over Command, you visit troops to meet them first hand and they tell you what their problems are, then you go back and articulate and ensure those problems are resolved”.
“This is what I can tell Nigerians. It is not just the Northeast Theatre, we are equally ensuring gallantry of our operations in other parts of the country. We will ensure that people do their work so that insecurity will be a thing of the past. There are challenges but are not insurmountable”.
“I will not start elaborating on those challenges. There are challenges that reduce military effectiveness and we are going to address them. The president and commander-in- Chief is interested in what goes on in this Theatre, ” the COAS further said .
He said, he has received some complaints from the troops and promised to address their demands as soon as possible.
“I know you have pushed these terrorists so far. You will continue to do the same thing subsequently. Another thing is the issue of lack of equipment, I was briefed about it and we are making frantic efforts towards addressing that. As your Chief of Army staff, I have been equally told of your kitting, in the next couple of weeks, you will have your boots, your uniforms and protective gears”.
“Furthermore, I know the issue of overstay in the mission have been a major problem. We will not do that almost immediately, but be rest assured that in the next couple of weeks or months, we shall have a standard rotation plan that most of you will be replaced by some other soldiers, so that we can continue the war”.
General Attahiru used the occasion to commend the soldiers for their bravery, gallantry as well as achievements recorded so far in the fight against insurgency stressing that the Army will continue to consolidate on success earlier recorded in order to give a final blow to the terrorists.
“I see this war ending soon so that all of us can go back and stay back with our families.
In the next couple of days, you will receive my command’s philosophy that will direct you on how we are going to run the Nigerian Army. A proud Army, a professional Army, an Army committed to make Nigerians proud that they indeed have an Army,” he concluded.
