Nigerian Military Battling Boko Haram Have Shamed Critics, Jonathan Says As He Pays Surprise Visit To Troops at Mubi And Baga

President Goodluck Jonathan, today, paid a surprise visit to Mubi in Adamawa State and Baga in Borno State, the two major towns which Nigerian soldiers recently retrieved from Boko Haram, even as he commended the fighting soldiers for their gallantry which they displayed by the rapid recapture of territories.
According to the President, the military’s recent victories against Boko Haram have proven conclusively that all those, within and outside the country, who cast aspersions on Nigerian soldiers and questioned their ability and willingness to overcome the insurgents were misinformed and wrong.
Addressing officers and men of the Nigerian Army in both towns, President Jonathan said that he and all Nigerians were very proud of the bravery, competence and patriotism with which they were now undertaking operations to expel the insurgents from all parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The President said that with their recent successes, which have overwhelmingly turned the tide against Boko Haram, the Nigerian military has proven beyond any doubt that it remains fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
President Jonathan, who was accompanied on the trip by the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki and all the Service Chiefs, assured the troops that the Federal Government will ensure that they receive all the equipment and logistics they require to complete the ongoing mission to reassert government’s effective control over all areas formerly held by Boko Haram.
The President promised the soldiers that all issues pertaining to their welfare will be properly and expeditiously addressed assuring them that they will be duly rewarded for their bravery and patriotic service to the nation at the successful conclusion of ongoing operations against Boko Haram.
Families of soldiers who have sadly lost their lives in battles against Boko Haram will also be well provided for, the President assured the troops.
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said that soldiers responded to the President’s address with chants of “Never Again” and assured him that insurgents and terrorists will never again be allowed to take and hold any Nigerian territory.
Dr. Abati said that while in Mubi, President Jonathan, accompanied by the Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari and the Minister of Youth Development, Bonnie Haruna, paid a courtesy call on the Emir, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu.
The President assured the Emir that the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure that normalcy is speedily returned to Mubi and other towns and settlements recently recaptured from Boko Haram to enable displaced persons return to their homes in the shortest possible time.
The Presidential spokesman said that Jonathan also undertook an aerial inspection of other towns and areas recently recaptured from Boko Haram including Monguno and that before returning to Abuja, the President met and conferred with the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri. [myad]