Army Chief reaffirms commitment to ensuring Nigeria’s safety

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai on Wednesday reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria as a nation.

Speaking in Abuja at the first quarter Chief of Army Staff conference in Abuja, General Buratai said the military is working tirelessly to overcome the challenges of insecurity as efforts remain in top gear to eliminate insurgents in the north east.

He challenged officers and men of the Nigerian Army to be loyal to the Federal Republic of Nigeria by upholding the constitution in its entirety.

This statement is coming barely 48 hours after the Nigerian Army announced the rescue of 275 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists during a mop-up operation in Borno State, northeast Nigeria.

The troops of 152 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with troops of Sector 1 of Multinational Joint Task Force made the feat during a clearance operation in suspected hideouts of the dreaded terrorists.

A statement by the Acting Director of the Nigerian Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said that one of the rescued persons gave birth to a baby boy shortly after their liberation, adding that both mother and child were doing fine.

The statement added that the soldiers cleared terrorists in Madawaya, Jere, Kardile, Koujili, Ngenere and Maksamari, as well as Douse, Bembem, Zombulum and Taraji villages while they recovered several vehicles and motorcycles.

In addition, the troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, four fully loaded magazines with 7.62mm ammunition, two power generating sets, welding machines, assorted batteries and solar panels.

The soldiers also recovered drums of beans and other grains as well as bandolier while they discovered and destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) – making factory at Bula Umara.

The troops have continued with their clearance operations to other suspected hideouts of the Boko Haram sects in their areas of operations.