The acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abubakar Haruna, has paid a morale-boosting visit to troops fighting Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest. During his visit, he lauded the troops for their recent successes, which included killing 21 Boko Haram terrorists, destroying their camps, and rescuing 386 captives.
Addressing the troops on the outskirts of Sambisa Forest in Konduga Local Government Area, Gen. Haruna praised their efforts during a 10-day operation dubbed “Operation Desert Sanity III,” aimed at clearing the forest of terrorist remnants and providing an opportunity for those willing to surrender.
“I want to commend you for your exceptional performance and professionalism exhibited during the operation, and I urge you to sustain the tempo. Our Special Forces troops, the troops of the 21 Armored Brigade, the Civilian JTF, and the Hybrid Forces have all done very well,” Gen. Haruna stated. “The Chief of Army Staff is highly pleased with your performance. Gentlemen, you have done your bit. You have sacrificed yourselves to ensure that peace and normalcy return to the North East. This is a wonderful outing, and we are very happy.”
Gen. Haruna emphasized the importance of continued efforts to hasten the defeat of insurgency, urging the troops to remain committed to their mission. “Our effort is to ensure that we clear the remnants of terrorists in Sambisa and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to do so. With this operation, we envisage many of them will surrender, as they have started.”
The troops have successfully cleared several Boko Haram enclaves, including Lawanti, Ukuba, Farisu, Sabil Huda, Njimia, Garin Gulukos, Garin Falluja, Shababul Ummah, Garin Pannel Bitter, and Lagara Anguwan Gwai Gwai, among others. In addition to killing scores of terrorists, including commanders, the troops recovered various types of arms, equipment, and armored vehicles.
“We also rescued some civilians; as of yesterday, we rescued 386, and I am sure the number will increase by today,” Haruna said.
Some of the rescued civilians, who had been in captivity for up to 10 years, will receive medical support and rehabilitation. The visit by the GOC, accompanied by his Principal Staff Officers, symbolizes courageous leadership, which has significantly boosted the morale of the fighting troops.
Gen. Haruna expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for his support and to the Theatre Commander of North East Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, for his strategic guidance and supervision.
