Buratai in Battlefield, Military Launches Offensive against ISWAP, Boko Haram, …Borno presents recommendations to Buhari

 

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, was at the battlefield to provide direction and boost the morale of fighting soldiers as the military launched air and ground offensive against terrorists in Borno State on Monday

However, as Boko Haram continues to create threats in the state, a delegation from the state on Monday presented recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 120 Battalion of the newly formed Nigerian Army Special Forces Command neutralised 100 terrorists in different battlegrounds on day one of the offensive.

The Nigerian Air Force is involved in waves of bombardments, destroying in the process several terrorist gun trucks and facilities.

The battlegrounds are Goniri, Yobe State; Damasak, Kross Kauwa and Monguno among other locations in Borno State.

"The gallant troops have also been repelling attempted efforts by the terrorists to infiltrate their locations.

"Buoyed by the COAS presence and motivation, the troops in the frontline are in renewed positive fighting spirit across the theatre to stop incursions and annihilate the terrorists.

"The battle has now further shifted to the fringes of Lake Chad and other suspected Boko Haram terrorists enclave along the borders," Army Spokesman, Brigadier-General Sani Usman, said.

Meanwhile, as Boko Haram continues to create threats in Borno State, a delegation from the state has presented recommendations to President Buhari.

The delegation which included traditional rulers, elders, national and state assembly members, ‎local government chairmen, women groups and members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and labour unions was led by the state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, to Aso Rock Villa.

A statement by the spokesman of the state governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, revealed that the delegation presented a letter containing security-related "observations" and ten undisclosed demands to the president.

He said the demands are connected to measures, which the delegation believes, if adhered to, would help in the efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the area.

Gusau said the governor had told the president that the demands and observations were issued at an extraordinary security meeting convened in Maiduguri last week Monday.

Shettima, in his opening remarks, was said to have informed the president that he was presenting a letter on behalf of the delegation.

He pleaded with journalists that because they were matters of security, he was not going to disclose both demands and observations.

The governor also appealed to be allowed with other members of the delegation to discuss the issues raised in closed door meeting with the president.

He told the Buhari: "Your Excellency, we came with some observations and 10 specific requests for urgent presidential intervention. These observations and requests are products of discussions in the aftermath of our extraordinary security meeting held one week ago. We didn't rush to come after the meeting. We felt the need to travel to northern Borno State, interact with displaced persons and the military so as to strengthen public confidence.

“I will seek the understanding of journalists by not making public any of our observations and ten requests. They are matters of security, which we hope to discuss with the president in closed door. I will like to recall with profound gratitude that in our extraordinary meeting last week, we brought on board leadership of the NUJ in Borno State and we took them into confidence.

“True to their promise, none of what we discussed in that meeting was revealed through any media platform. Such an attitude displayed by the media is a further proof that Nigerian journalists are without doubt, devoted to sincere measures in the fight against Boko Haram."

The governor also explained that the people of the state have demonstrated the highest commitment to the fight against Boko Haram by donating their sons and daughters who have been fighting in battle fronts as volunteers under the Civilian JTF.

Shettima said: "Mr President, from 2013 to date, more than 20,000 youth volunteers, among them young women, have offered themselves in fighting against Boko Haram under the Civilian JTF.  These youths are sons and daughters of the same people of the state that were accused of undermining the fight against Boko Haram.

“From 2013 to date, our administration has been solely responsible for funding hundreds of successful operations carried out by the Civilian JTF. We have been responsible for their recruitment after thorough vetting by the DSS. We fund their training, kit them, provide them operational vehicles and maintain these vehicles.

“We pay their allowances, supply them surveillance gadgets and deploy them on the advice of security establishments. Most importantly, these Civilian JTF members are good in gathering local intelligence and are experts in identifying Boko Haram members no matter how they try to conceal themselves. They have done so much with our consistent support, and we have seriously supported and continue to support all security agencies, particularly the military."

Shettima said a delegation from Borno State was in the Presidential Villa because unlike in previous years when they were treated with suspicion, President Buhari has demonstrated empathy and compassion to the Borno people.