In furtherance of efforts to rid the country of remnants of Boko Haram insurgents fleeing Sambisa Forest, the Nigeria Army said it has arrested 39 Boko Haram suspects, over 40 foreigners and over 42 Kalare boys in Gombe state.
The Commander, 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe Brigadier General Zakari Abubakar stated this on Saturday during the West African Social Activity (WASA), which marked the Army’s end of 2016 calendar year.
He said the Nigerian military had gone hi-tech and revolutionized its operations which have greatly assisted in the defeat of Boko Haram even as he commended the Chief of Army Staff, the Army High Command and President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible.
Brig. Gen. Abubakar called on members of the public to offer the military greater cooperation and collaboration towards ensuring the complete defeat of Boko Haram insurgency by volunteering more information since the army cannot do it alone.
He said, “The only problem we are having is the communities, the people have not accepted the Army the way they should. A lot of people do not volunteer information to us and we cannot do it alone.
“So we are calling on the populace around us to volunteer information to us to enable us perform even better.
“When they see any undesirable element, they should tell us. But if you collaborate with Boko Haram and hide them, that honestly will make our jobs difficult.
The Commander however emphasized the lack of accommodation as one of the problems facing the troops which he said was a big challenge yet troops have remained resolute and committed to duty
In his remarks, Deputy Governor of Gombe state, Charles Iliya who was guest of honour, noted that the fact people were staying late to see the end of the event indicated their interest in the armed forces which he said called for a great gratitude to the military.
“Gratitude for so many reasons, we would not have been standing here like this. But here we are today because peace has returned to the northeast and Gombe state in particular. That is why we are gathered here today feeling relaxed, feeling alright and enjoying ourselves.
“We therefore thank God, thank the Army; thank other security outfits for ensuring that we can sleep with our eyes closed these days.
“We wish you more successes in the northeast, more successes in other parts of Nigeria”, Iliya who spoke on behalf of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo said.
He assured the Army that the government will never stop assisting the military formations in Gombe state.
He also extended gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whom he said had made it possible for the military to offer the services to the people; even as he prayed for the President’s quick return.
END
