Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa, (rtd) has pleaded with Nigerians not to lose hope in the capacity of the Nigerian Army to rout bandits and insurgents in certain states in the country.
The Minister of Defense made the appeal on Thursday while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
General Musa led Service Chiefs to the meeting to give President Tinubu an update on the war against terrorism.
Checks revealed that over 100 women and children were abducted last weekend when terrorists stormed Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government of Borno State.
The terrorists belonging to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in a coordinated attacks allegedly overran a military base belonging to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion before storming the community and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.
The Minister of Defense maintained that the terrorists are taking more casualties but expressed concern that only pockets of attack on the men on theatre operations by the terrorists get mentioned in the media.
He said: “Our appeal to Nigerians is not to get tired, not to be discouraged because sometimes when you hear those news, you will think it is just what is happening, but it is not, it is far from that.
“The terrorists, the bandits, are taking more casualties; their commanders are being killed. We have lost a number of very courageous officers and men, highly regrettable, but we want to assure Nigerians that it is the commitment we are putting on ground to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secured.
“New things, the President has promised more equipment for us to be able to protect the country against the war and we are sure of victory.
“Like I said, it’s war, and you know war comes in and out and because again, it’s usual with the terrorists during the Ramadan period, they feel when they die they are going to heaven, so they are ready to commit any offence or to get killed because they have reward.”
The Minister of Defense maintained that the military has adjusted its strategies and expressed satisfaction that it is winning the war.
He further attributed the recent breakthrough to President Tinubu, whom he commended for giving adequate support in terms of arms and ammunition and other logistics needs to the men on theatre operations.
“But like I said, we have adjusted our strategies, you can see in the past few days we have taken over those locations, we have killed their commanders, we have taken over their assets, we will continue to do more.
“And I assure you, Mr President has approved many things are coming on our line and we are working together as a team, as you can see all members of the security forces are here to assure Nigerians and Mr President that we are on track and we will succeed.” Tribune