FG Boosts Gallant Troops as Key Roads Reopen in Borno

FG Boosts Gallant Troops as Key Roads Reopen in Borno

In the spirit of the yuletide, the federal government has congratulated the ‘gallant’ troops of the

Nigerian military for routing out the Boko Haram terrorist group from Sambisa forest and restoring security in the Northeast, a development that fast-tracked the re-opening of two strategic roads in Borno State on Christmas day.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement issued today, appealed to Nigerians for continued support for the troops as they clear the remnants of the terrorists now on the run.

Mohammed also called for increased vigilance by Nigerians, warning that some of the Boko Haram escapees would seek to integrate themselves into communities.

''We urge Nigerians to keep our gallant and victorious troops in their prayers, and to also imbibe the mantra of 'if you see something, say something' as a way of ensuring that no escaped terrorist is able to wreak havoc in their communities.

“It is also important to know that now that they have been dispossessed of their fortress, the Boko Haram escapees will intensify their cowardly attacks on vulnerable targets if only to maintain an illusion of terror. But there should be no panic because the worst is over,” Mohammed said.

While commending the military for the re-opening of the Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak road and the Maiduguri-Mungono-Baga road, which linked Nigeria with neighbouring countries, the minister hailed the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, for his unwavering support for the military and his administration's determination to quickly restore normalcy across the state.

According to him, it was in recognition and celebration of the gallantry of the military that he decided to lead a contingent of local and international media to join the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Dan Ali (rtd); the Service Chiefs and Shettima at the opening of the two strategic roads yesterday.

But the planned trip to Maiduguri was botched as the delegation could not depart Abuja due to bad weather after several hours of waiting at the airport.  The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, accompanied by top military chiefs, re-opened the two arterial roads which were closed due to the activities of the terrorists in the area.

The Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak road and the Maiduguri-Mungono-Baga road are of strategic importance to the economy of the Lake Chad region.

Mohammed commended the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the much-needed impetus for the military's victory in the North-east region, and urged Nigerians to continue to give their unalloyed support to the president in his untiring efforts to restore peace and security across the country and also revamp the economy.