By Danmaryam Zayamu
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has assured the personnel of the Nigerian Army of improved welfare the in year 2020.
He disclosed this in a statement signed by the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, in Abuja.
Buratai, however, applauded the personnel of the Nigerian Army for the successes so far recorded throughout the Year 2019 in Operation LAFIYA DOLE and all other operations across the country.
“He assures them of improved welfare in the Year 2020 and further commends Field Commanders and Principal Staff Officers as well as other officers and men for their efforts in implementing all strategic directives in the preceding year,” the statement noted.
This is even as the Army have dealt a huge blow on deviants including remnants of the Boko Haram and members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East, decimating many of them and rescuing some women and children in the process.
According to the statement,
“troops of 242 Bn deployed at Charlie 6 Check Point in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State arrested suspected Boko Haram criminals’ logistics suppliers named Abubakar Aisami and Modu Baba with food stuff and drugs concealed in a bag of smashed corn powder intended for delivery to Boko Haram criminals.
“The troops neutralized one Boko Haram terrorist, captured one other alive as well as rescued 8 women and 6 children.
“The rescued children were immediately administered with Polio Vaccines. The gallant troops also destroyed the criminals’ hideouts, captured their flags, recovered16 arrows and 32 refilled rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition during the encounter.
“The discovery of refilled ammunition is indicative of acute shortage of ammunition and related resources in the criminals’ holding.”
The statement further revealed that “troops of 25 Task Force Brigade deployed at Nigerian Army Super Camp 2 Damboa in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, on 25 December 2019 conducted a sting operation and arrested one high profile Boko Haram informant/logistics supplier named Ibrahim Bulama Buba and 2 others suspected to be his couriers at Shuwari village in Damboa District.
“In another development, the troops of Sector 3 Mobile Team in conjunction with elements of Sector 2 Multi National Joint task Force conducted Operation LIFE LINE in the general area of Monguno, Gasarwa, Wamiri, Badu, Gudumbali and Kukawa in Monguno, Guzamala and Kukawa LGAs of Borno State.
“The troops engaged the marauding Boko Haram criminals in a fierce fire fight forcing them to speedily retreat in disarray towards Garere Village, a critical gateway in Guzamala LGA leading into the Lake Chad Tumbuns.
“The troops conducted a thorough search of the illegal market place and in the process recovered and destroyed 15 vehicles belonging to the Boko Haram criminals, arrested 75 suspected Boko Haram criminals’ agents and equally rescued 147 civilians among whom were 79 males and 68 females who had been under the captivity of the criminal elements.
“The rescued civilians were conveyed to a humanitarian facility in Monguno and thereafter handed over to officials of Borno State Emergency Management Agency.
“The children among them were administered with polio vaccine by the Buratai Intervention Task Force Initiative.
“Similarly, on 27 December 2019, troops of 8 Division pursued and made contact with bandits that rustled some cows and sheep from Jagbanda village in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State.
“Accordingly, the resilient troops neutralized one of the bandits and recovered one AK 47 Rifle loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, alongside the rustled animals.
“Also, on 27 December 2019, the troops of Operation MESA conducted security patrols that yielded in the arrest of 5 suspected Sara Suka militia group members with some quantities of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa and other illicit drugs at Filin Ball and Sabon Layi area in Jos North LGA of Plateau State.”
