With the view of assessing and having firsthand information of the military operation areas in the fight against insurgency, 40 Online Media Journalists and Media Influencers have visited Bama, Borno State.
The trip took almost two hours from Maiduguri the State Capital through Kondugo LGA left the participants with sights of villages ravaged by the dreaded Boko Haram.
The team under the leadership of Brig. Gen. E. A. Oladeniyi, Commander 21 Special Armoured Brigade Brig. Gen. ST Audu welcomed the visiting team and gave vivid picture of what was/is obtainable in Bama Town which is the spiritual headquarters of the dreaded Boko Haram Group.
Brig. Gen. Audu narrated how they achieved the Restoration of peace and security in Bama Town.
He said Bama being the busiest road in the north east as it links Adamawa, Taraba and Cameroon, they conduct thorough search on vehicles and persons on account of security situation.
He said they were able to achieve the return of people to Bama as from 2013-2014 the town was deserted due to the aggressive hostilities by the Boko Haram.
Displayed Confidence that Boko Haram can no longer penetrate Bama Town as they did in the past.
They have zero tolerance for human rights abuses by Officers and Soldier. They adhere strict to all laws regarding human rights. Seminars and sensitization workshops are organized for security agencies in that regard.
He said Brigade has provided humanitarian interventions to IDPs especially medical outreaches due to the destruction of health centre, water etc.
Brig. Gen. Audu said they are in Bama to secure, fortify and make the place safer and more habitable to inhabitants.
He said they also do provide security to Local Farmers while working on their farmlands.
They rehabilitated the roads to make it motorable to the people and discourage planting IEDs on roads in deplorable condition.
They provide teachers who are military men/women to teach children in Camps.
They help in providing services that MDAs cannot do on account of the security situation e.g Polio eradication.
He said they have recovered ammunitions, decimated/degraded Boko Haram to ensure that Boko Haram don’t attack the town again and rescued those held captives by Boko Haram.
For over 9 Months no case of bomb blast was recorded.
They conduct patrols in the entire town and secure IDPs Camps.
He charged journalist on clarification of information before publication. He charged the Media Team to publish the right information and always protect the integrity and image of the Nation.
He said Locals do poses great challenge to their operations as they don’t adhere to their security tips.
Civilians returned to Bama LGA since April, 2018.
He also appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for being supportive.
The team visited the internally displaced persons’ camp in Bama where they assisted those in the camp and Bama Market where commercial activities were bubbling.
The team also visited Maj. Gen. OG Adeniyi, Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole at the Headquarters of operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri who prayed for better synergy with the media after welcoming them to his domain
Maj. Gen. OG Adeniyi urged for strategic cooperation with the media personalities to win the war against the meaningless and heartless Boko Haram who he described as enemies of national unity, progress and development.
He underscored the Importance of the social media owing to its flexibility and wide reach.
He said Boko Haram has now been strategically defeated and its strategic goal of establishing a political nation for itself has been technically defeated. Spoke on the establishment of super camps 4 Months ago which are fully armed, more flexible and mobile to strengthen the fight against insurgency. He said less casualties on the Army side has been recorded with no community overran since the establishment of super camps.
He said his desire is not to fail but keep indelible legacies. The army needs helicopters to end Boko Haram, this is vital, he said. He said the army will contest some areas aggressively and violently with the insurgents.
He said they are going into offensive war with Boko Haram saying more disastrous days for Boko Haram. The difficulty in fighting insurgents is because they mix with civilians and carry out soft target attacks. There is need for intelligence and swiftness in the fight against insurgents which will take a little long time but was quick to say Boko Haram will never capture any community again.
Some of the team Members who spoke commended the Military for the their commitments in fighting Boko Haram and urged them to put in more effort to completely bring the Boko Haram madness to an end. They also urged the Federal government and Nigerians to accord them the necessary supports in order to carryout their duties of protecting the nation’s territorial integrity against external aggression for national unity, cohesion, progress and peace.
This tour was an offshoot of seminar organized across the 6 geopolitical zones and Lagos State by the Nigerian Army Department of Civil Military Affairs.
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