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Terror attacks: “Additional military equipment sent to Niger by the army.”

  • Post category:Insecurity

“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has issued a directive for the immediate reinforcement of troops stationed on operational duties in Niger State, augmenting them with additional military equipment. This decision comes in the wake of a recent encounter between the military and terrorists in Zungeru and Shiroro regions of the state. The purpose of this move, as gathered, is to enhance the operational efficiency of the troops in countering the presence of terrorists occupying various parts of the state.

According to a statement released in Abuja by Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, the COAS issued this directive after visiting the Forward Operating base at Erena in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on Tuesday. During the visit, he received a briefing on the security situation from the General Officer Commanding I Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi.

On the previous Monday, bandits ambushed and killed 13 soldiers on the Zungeru-Tegina road at Madaka Ward in the Rafi Local Government Area of the state. Additionally, bandits took credit for downing a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter transporting injured soldiers in Chukuba village, Shiroro Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of all military personnel onboard.

The COAS emphasized to the troops that protecting lives and defending the nation is a noble service and urged them not to let their morale wane. He stated, “You are, therefore, in the noble profession of arms and must not allow your morale to dwindle. We must defeat the adversaries of our people and take back every inch of space where they are hibernating in our land.”

Furthermore, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, paid a visit to the wounded soldiers being treated at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. He encouraged the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces to give their best in defending the country, acknowledging that military duty carries risks. He assured the troops that the Armed Forces would ensure the well-being and treatment of wounded personnel, even if it necessitates flying them abroad.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) dismissed the claim by a group of bandits that they shot down the NAF MI-171 helicopter that crashed on Monday at Chukuba village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. The NAF stated that the crash was due to adverse weather conditions during a casualty evacuation mission from Zungeru Primary School in Niger State to Kaduna. The NAF referred to the claim as mere propaganda and emphasized its commitment to addressing fatalities, mishaps, and crashes inherent to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, likening them to challenges encountered by all military organizations involved in such activities.”

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