We’re winning war against Boko Haram – Army Boss

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday said that Nigeria has begun winning the war against terrorism. He said the state of emergency declared by the Federal Government in three states in the North had helped to curb terrorism in the country. The COAS spoke at the inauguration of the Headquarters of the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, Ondo State capital. Lt-Gen. Ihejirika assured that terrorism would soon be a thing of the past in the county. He noted that although the Army lost some men and equipment in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents, but said said the nation was winning the war. He said: “The troops on ground are doing a very good job in our quest to rid the country of insurgents, but the battle is not over, more efforts are still needed and this has been my message to the commanders and troops. “No doubt, the Army is doing well in the fight against terrorism, though we have lost a couple of men and equipment, we have made tremendous achievements and in line with the directive of the President, we will go all way to flush out the insurgents from our country”. The COAS, however, ordered all the commanders across the army formations to ensure that their operational readiness was intact at all times. He gave the wake-up call in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a visit to the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment of the 2 Division of Nigerian Army at Odogbo and the headquarters of 42 Division, Letmauck Cantonment, Mokola, Ibadan. The Army Chief was conducted round the facilities at the 2 Division by the General Officer Commanding, Maj-Gen. Ahmed Jibrin, and by Brig-Gen. Olusegun Adeleke at the 42 Division. On Lt-Gen. Ihejirika’s entourage were the Chief Entourage Provost Marshall, Maj-Gen. Raphael Isa; Commander, Nigerian Army Engineers, Maj-Gen. Funsho Owonibi; Director of Military Intelligence, Maj-Gen. Latern Wiwa and Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Mustapha Anka, among others. Addressing journalists after the tour, Lt-Gen. Ihejirika said the visit was “to interact with the GOC of the 2 Division, Commanders and Staff Officers to assess their operational readiness and also to inspect some of the projects completed. He said: “The efforts being put in by the Army and other agencies to enhance security are yielding a lot of fruits. “We have not achieved the desired peace we expect in all parts of the country, but a lot of progress is being made and as I undertake these tours, I use the opportunity to assess the operational readiness of the various divisions and units in the country”. Meanwhile, some Army personnel attached to the 35 Artillery Brigade Command at Alamala in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, have arrested no fewer than eight persons for allegedly running an illegal cement factory. A statement bythe Army Public Relations Officer (APRO), Captain Adamu Nguide, said the suspects were arrested while adulterating products purchased from Lafarge WAPCO Cement and Dangote Cement with sand and sawdust at their factory at Ewekoro along the Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway. Nguide gave the names of the suspects as Bamidele Raji, Sikiru Adesina, Abiodun Akinfenwa, Wale Ogunikea and Sarafa Yusuf. Others are Joseph Guto, Funso Orutoso and Akinlodu Jalili.