Aftermath the conquering of Sambisa Forest, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, on Monday said Sambisa forest would serve as training ground for personnel of the Nigerian Army as from 2017.
General Buratai said this in Damasak, Borno, while celebrating Christmas with troops of 145 Battalion after the road leading to the town was reopened by Governor Kashim Shettima, three years after closure.
“We are also opening up roads to Sambisa and Alagarno forest. Sambisa forest is going to be one of our training grounds.
“I have already directed that we should conduct Nigerian Army small arms championship in that forest next year.
“And we are going to use it also to test fire our fighting vehicles, other key equipment and weapons that require testing whenever we want to induct new weapon and equipment into the Nigerian army inventory.
“It will afford us very good ground for basic tactics and, indeed, advance tactics, including but not limited to tactics at the Platoon, company, battalion, Brigade and even division levels.
“We are going to make it more robust to make sure these criminals do not come back to that forest again.
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Meanwhile, former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has described as courageous, the capture of Sambisa Forest , even as he reaffirmed confidence in President Muhammadu and the military to crushing any challenge against the “territorial integrity of Nigeria”.
In a letter of commendation to Buhari he personally signed, the former president expressed delight over the news of successful operations of “our gallant military personnel” in the Sambisa Forest.
“It is a sign of relief, which the Military has finally smashed out Boko Haram terrorists from their notorious enclave of Sambisa Forest,” he said.
General Babangida saluted the courage and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari, Army chiefs as well as armed men and women and other security personnel for their sacrifice for the painful liberation of Sambisa Forest and adjoining abode of Boko Haram.
He said: “May I rejoice with the government and Nigerians on the successful dislodging of Boko Haram from their base in Sambisa.”
General Babangida hoped that very soon the remaining Chibok girls will be located and reunite with their families.
The former Military President, pay tributes to all fallen heroes for paying a supreme sacrifice in their efforts of keeping the nation from aggression noting, “ the Labour of our heroes past, shall never been in vain”.
He urged the military to unveil a new strategy of further defeating pockets of insurgents/terrorists, armed bandits and cattle rustlers all over the country.
He urged Nigerians to support the on-going efforts by the federal government to making the country safe for all.
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