Hundreds of r‎esidents of Gubio community, Borno State, on Sunday trooped out to sing praises of, and commend gallant troops of the Nigerian Army who confronted heavily armed Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who attempted to over run the community and dealt a heavy blow on the terrorists.
They made their feelings known when Borno state governor, Babagana Umara visited the community to see things for himself.
Narrating the gallant efforts put up by the troops, the residents told Umara that the soldiers engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle for seven hours (between 6pm and 1am) before they could push them back.
During the visit to Gubio, the governor who was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives representing Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri federal constituency, Usman Zannah and some government officials, visited headquarters of the ‎5 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.
At the meeting with the military were the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Benson Akinroluyo, Colonel I.A Ajose, the Brigade Commander, and the caretaker chairman of Gubio, Zannah Modu Gubio, and other government officials.
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The Caretaker chairman told the governor that were it not for the gallant resistance by soldiers of the Brigade, the insurgents could have gained control of Gubio on the Sallah eve.
Assuring the governor of the determination of troops to engage the terrorists to submission, the Theatre Commander, Maj General Akinroluyo
said the Army was now changing strategy, part of which include operational movement of troops from one location to another.
Responding, Gov. Umara praised the 5 brigade for the gallantry and patriotism of soldiers under the command.
He said Borno government will sustain its support for the military by interventions on logistics, funding of volunteers in the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes who complement the military in fighting insurgents as well as continued mobilization of citizens to cooperate and support the military.
The governor who later visited the palace of the district head, assured them of the military’s continued presence.
He used the occasion to present additional patrol vehicles to more than 300 volunteers of the Civilian JTF and vigilantes helping with community surveillance, intelligence gathering and sometimes, fighting alongside the military in front lines.
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