Recent attacks on military bases and the attendant losses of soldiers and equipment will not stop the military from winning the war against Boko Haram insurgency in the country, says Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru.
Attahiru said this on Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, when he paid another visit to the frontline.
The Chief of Army Staff has reportedly visited the military base in Borno five times since his appointment in February.
The latest visit followed this week’s attack on troops at Mainok village, where major military equipment was destroyed and stolen by the insurgents.
18 soldiers were killed while 43 were injured during the attack.
In what seemed like an encouragement, after meeting with the troops’ commander, Attahiru said despite the constant attacks and losses on the side of the troops, he was still impressed with their performance.
He said, “The constant touch with troops and their commanders in the field is of the essence for every military operation, especially in a counter-insurgency environment.
“The essence is to reassure the troops, get to hear from them if they do have issues they want us to discuss; it could be that of logistics, it could that of deployment, and then reassure them that Mr President, as the commander in chief, is aware of all they are doing here and he would do his best to provide the needed resources to execute this war to a logical conclusion.
‘This, indeed, is not just this theatre, but any theatre that the Nigerian army is operating.”
He added, “In a military operation, this is a norm.
“We have defeated Boko Haram severally. And if, for one time, they came to attack and we lose some equipment, even though we were never defeated, I can assure you that we will overcome, notwithstanding whatever had happened.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the entire operation which is of course the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria.”
Attahiru, who was a former theatre commander in Borno State, said the recent loss of major military equipment is not out of place in a war situation.
