Military may absorb qualified civilian JTF members - Minister of defence
- The minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, says no fewer than 30,000 women and children have been rescued from Boko Haram by the troops of operation Lafiya Dole in Sambisa Forest
- He states that the Nigerian military has recorded remarkable success in degrading Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east
- Shettima lauds military for crushing Boko Haram
Nigeria will consider the absorption into the armed forces some members of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) who are assisting the military in fighting Boko Haram.
The minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, who disclosed this on Monday, February 5, at a town hall meeting for the military and security agencies in Maiduguri, said the JTF members should however be qualified to be absorbed, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
He said that no fewer than 30,000 women and children have been rescued from Boko Haram by the troops of operation Lafiya Dole in Sambisa Forest in the last two years.
Dan-Ali said that the Nigerian military had recorded remarkable success in degrading Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.
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“It is pertinent to state that the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and its air force component inflicted heavy casualty on the Boko Haram during the recent Operation Deep Punch II in Sambisa forest,” he said.
Dan-Ali said that the fighting troops were ever ready to confront Boko Haram, adding that no Nigerian territory was under the control of the insurgents.
He said that the troops had recently destroyed Shilka of Boko Haram terrorists and recovered many arms and ammunition and bomb making factory in the Boko Haram enclaves.
He further said that the air component of the operation had also bombed many Boko Haram camps and hideout thereby destroying their bomb artillery.
The minister attributed these successes to the political will and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in the security sector.
He said that regular visits of fighting troops by the minister of defence and the service chiefs in the front line has also served as a morale booster to the troops.
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He explained that the ministry had also ensured timely disbursement of the troops welfare and allowances while those who overstayed in the battle field were rotated.
The minister said that fighting troops at the battle field were promoted in recognition of their selfless service.
He said that the ministry had earmarked some funds for the construction and renovation of military accommodation in the six geo-political zones of the country.
“Plans are on the way for the construction of 20 blocks of barracks accommodation under the ministry to eased problem of accommodation of personnel in Abuja.
“Recently, the army also took in six newly acquired mine caterpillar used to demobilise explosives which had really eased their operations.
Meanwhile, the governor of Borno, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Monday, February 5, commended the Nigerian military for the successes recorded so far in the war against Boko Haram.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commendation comes amid latest claims by the military authorities that the insurgency has been total crushed.
Boko Haram, which is seeking the enthronement of a strict Islamic code in Nigeria, launched its deadly insurgency in 2009, killing thousands of people and leaving the economy of Nigeria’s northeast in ruins.
Shettima, who was speaking in Maiduguri at the inauguration of a special town hall meeting for military and security agencies in the northeast, hailed the military for demonstrating high patriotism and professionalism.
Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng