Jonathan visits Borno, hails ‘patriotic’ soldiers

President Goodluck Jonathan visited Maiduguri, the capital of Borno – the state worst hit by insurgency in the north-east – on the occasion of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The president arrived the state in the company of Alex Badeh, the chief of defence staff, Sambo Dasuki, the national security adviser and other service chiefs.

Jonathan visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri to thank them for their patriotic and courageous service to the nation.

He told officers and soldiers of the division that the nation was very proud of them and grateful for their “dedication and commitment to the defence of the civilian population against terrorists and violent extremists”.

He also assured the troops that the federal government would continue to do everything possible to ensure that they get the weapons, equipment, welfare and logistics support they require to completely rout the insurgents and restore full security and normalcy to affected parts of the country.

Describing the troops as a special breed of men who were undertaking a great assignment for their fatherland, the president assured them that all necessary action was being taken to address challenges facing them in their operations against Boko Haram.

“In terms of equipment and logistics, we have already made considerable progress since the insurgency started and we will continue to improve in that regard until your operations are successfully concluded,” he told the soldiers.

Jonathan also toured wards of the 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services Centre, where he met with soldiers recovering from injuries sustained in operations against Boko Haram. He wished them speedy recovery.

Before leaving the Borno state capital, he visited over 900 displaced persons from Baga at a camp in the city, commiserating with them on the losses they suffered during the attack on their town by Boko Haram.

He promised them that the federal government would strive to make their stay in the camps more comfortable while it continues to do all within its powers to restore peace and security to enable them return to their homes soon.

“Terrorism and insurgency have been very traumatic for all of us. I feel particularly disturbed when I hear of our people being displaced within their own country,” he said.

“I assure you and other displaced persons that government is working very hard to ensure that you do not remain in these camps for too long.

“I know that many of your houses have been destroyed. We will assist you financially so that you can rebuild your homes and return to them gradually.”

Jonathan thanked the Red Cross and other international organisations who have been assisting in the provision of relief materials to the displaced persons.

He also charged local, state and federal government officials to work with greater harmony and cooperation in rendering support to the displaced persons.

“I do not want to be hearing conflicting reports on support being given to them. Government is one and we must all work together to assist our people whenever the need arises,” he said.

“We must cooperate maximally and work together at the local government, state and federal levels to ensure that our people who are unfortunately displaced from their homes get the best possible treatment.”

As the president landed in the towwn, Ibrahim Mohammed, a resident of Maiduguri, told TheCable that major roads were closed while military jets were hovering over the sky.

It is the first time Jonathan has visited the state since the insurgency deteriorated to the current level.

He has been criticised for staying away from the state, especially after about 276 female students were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, in April 2014.

In May, there were media reports that Jonathan was to visit the state en route a regional security meeting in Paris, the capital of France, but Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesman, later debunked it.