COAS pays another daring visit to troops in frontline of counterinsurgency

COAS pays another daring visit to troops in frontline of counterinsurgency 

By Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri 

Nigeria Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, had yesterday paid a surprise visit to troops that are currently fighting to end Boko Haram insurgency in northern part of Borno state. 

The army chief who expressed confidence in the ability of his troops to make significant achievement towards the December deadline given by Aso Rock to clear the Boko Haram off the northeast Nigeria, however urged the Nigerian troops to remain focus, as they give "a final push to
end the Boko Haram".

Gubio is 95.4km northwest of Maiduguri. 

Buratai visited the 113 Task Battalion Gubio, in Gubio Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno hailed the troops for their gallantry even as he informed them that they "have done well and you must maintain the tempo". 

``You must be on the offensive and waste no time in giving a final push in ending Boko Haram,''

The army chief who was accompanied by  Buratai Major.General Yushau Abubakar, the Theater Commander  of the Operation Lafiya Dole and other principal officers from army headquarters told the frontline soldiers that The issue of their allowances and salaries is been sorted out, even as he allayed their worries over such concern. 

``There may be a little delay,  but everything is being sorted,'' said the army chief. 

From Damasak, the COAS advanced into the remote hinterland to meet with troops of the 118 Task Force battalion currently  advancing to capture Damasak,  a major border town 181km away from Maiduguri which is linking Nigeria and Niger Republic.

He joined the task force in advancing up to Kareto town
which is about 13 kilometer to the main target, from where he interacted with the battalion, whom he urged to keep on the
offensive and give no breathing space to the Boko Haram until everyone of them is cleared

"You have to be on the offensive and as you advance, because we have a mission here, and accomplish it we must once and for all", he said. 

From Damasak, the army chief led his team through another 216km to visit  the location of the newly formed 23 Task Force Brigade with tactical headquarters in Jakana in Kaga LGA. He also participated in a night operation with the troops of 29 Task Force Brigade along the Jakana axis, before ending the visit.