By Sam Kayode
The Nigerian Army Chief Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has vowed to address the various challenges affecting troops in operations Hadin Kai North-east Nigeria.
He told newsmen during an operational visit to Maiduguri over the weekend that he was aware of the vexed issue of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and will go all out to assist troops to make progress in their campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency.
Lagbaja told newsmen that his mission was also to assess the operational strategies of commanders and reinvigorate where necessary ongoing Counter terrorism operations in the entire theatre of war.
“I came to the theatre this time around on an operational visit. I have just been briefed by the Theatre Commander (TC) on the operational, administrative and other issues in the theatre.
“The whole essence of coming around this time is to have an opportunity to go round and physically interact with troops, hear from them so that the Army headquarters can take appropriate actions on the challenges confronting formations and units in the theatre with a view to bring stability and peace to the people.
“From here I will be going to Damaturu. I will talk with them to address the challenges we’ve observed in the theatre like that of kidnapping of civilians on the highways in Borno and the use of IEDs to attack troop convoy on the roads”, said the Chief of Army Staff.
Gen Lagbaja commended the troops for staying on top of their acts adding that Combat enablers will be provided to support ongoing operations to further ensure more pronounced stability in the region.
IEDs have been a recurring decimal in the Borno axis of the north Eastern war theatre in which several soldiers have paid the Supreme sacrifice due to IEDs planted on their trails.
Recently, some soldiers moving from Gwoza to replenish logistics supplies for troops in maiduguri lost their lives along the road due to IEDs planted by the terrorists against them.
Most of them perished while negotiating the bush paths while trying to escape from the main road where their truck first exploded during the ill fated trip taking out many of them instantly.
