Defence minister Dan Ali addressing JournalistsPresident Muhammadu Buhari has sent the Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali on fact-finding mission to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and the neighbouring Republic of Chad.
The Presidential directive came following the recent attacks in parts of Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.
The minister, who spoke to news men today after a two-hour crucial closed door meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Military Command and Control Centre, said: “I am here on the instruction of Mr. President, to come and see the happenings in the Theatre Command of the Operation Lafia Dole.
“I have been briefed by the Commander and the Chief of Army Staff. I am here to know what is expected, what the president should do to make things work and I have been briefed.
“So, I will take home all the briefings by each and every of the commanders here.”
Dan-Ali, who also left for the Republic of Chad after the meeting, expected to hold a meeting with his Chadian counterpart in view of recent attacks by the Boko Haram terrorists on areas bordering Chad and Nigeria.
The officers at the meeting with the minister were the Chief of Training and Operations, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters and Theatre Commander, Operation Lafia Dole, Major General Benson Akinroluyo; senior Officers in charge of the Air Force and Navy components of the operations, as well as some field commanders.
