Jonathan visits Mubi, Baga hails soldiers

President Goodluck Jonathan on
Thursday made a surprise visit to
some territories recently recovered
from members of the Boko Haram
sect by the Nigerian troops in
Adamawa and Borno states.
The Presidency in a statement by
the Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, described the visit, that took
Jonathan to Mubi in Adamawa State
and Baga in Borno State among
others, as an on-the-spot
assessment of efforts of the military
and morale booster for the troops.
According to Abati, in the two towns
recently recovered, Jonathan, who
was dressed in full military
camouflage, applauded the
Nigerian troops for proving their
mettle once again through the
rapid recapture of the territories
formerly held by insurgents in the
country’s north-eastern states.
The presidential spokesman
quoted Jonathan as telling the
officers and men of the Nigerian
Army in both towns 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.
He further quoted the President as
saying that with their recent
successes, which had
overwhelmingly turned the tide
against Boko Haram, the Nigerian
military had proven beyond any
doubt that it remained fully
capable of defending the territorial
integrity of Nigeria.
He added that Jonathan also told
them that their recent victories
against Boko Haram had also
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.
The statement read in part,
“President Jonathan, who was
accompanied on the trip by the
National Security Adviser, Col.
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 the government’s
effective control over all the areas
formerly held by Boko Haram.
“The President promised the
soldiers that all issues pertaining to
their welfare will be properly and
expeditiously addressed.
“He assured 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
further assured the troops.”
Abati said the excited 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.
He said while in Mubi, Jonathan,
accompanied by the Governor of
Adamawa State, Mr. Bala Ngilari, and
the Minister of Youth Development,
Mr. Bonni Haruna, paid a courtesy
call on the Emir, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu.
He further quoted the President as
assuring the Emir that the Federal
Government will do all within its
powers to ensure that normalcy
was speedily returned to Mubi and
other towns and settlements
recently recaptured from Boko
Haram to enable displaced persons
to return to their homes in the
shortest possible time.
He said Jonathan also undertook an
aerial inspection of other towns
and areas recently recaptured from
Boko Haram including Monguno.
Before returning to Abuja, Abati
added that the President met and
conferred with the Borno State
Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima,
in Maiduguri.
It will be recalled that Jonathan had
on January 15 paid a similar surprise
visit to Maiduguri, Borno State
believed to be the stronghold of
the sect.