Dozens of
Nigerians on Saturday marched round the nation’s capital, Abuja, to show
solidarity for the Nigerian and Multi National Forces fighting the Boko Haram
insurgents in the north-east. The organisers of the march, Support
Our Troops Foundation, said they were motivated especially by recent success
reports of reclaimed territories by the troops in the heightened
counter-terrorism offensive launched against the insurgents.They are hopeful
that such show of solidarity would boost the morale of the troops in the
ongoing fight to root out the Boko Haram terrorists from Nigeria. According to
the founder of the group, Funmi Ogbue, the support was not just for the
Nigerian troops. He said it was also a show of solidarity for the multinational
troops battling the insurgents from their boarders. “Never Again”
The group ended the march at the Army Headquarters, where the army
spokesperson, Major General Chris Olukolade, showed appreciation for the
solidarity march, describing it as a morale booster. Major General Olukolade
said that the solidarity walk would spur them for more results, assuring the
group that “never again will reclaimed territories fall to the insurgents”. The
troops have recorded remarkable successes in the last one week, reclaiming over
ten communities from the insurgents. The march and other gestures from the
government and the citizenry are expected to give more boost to the morale
of the troops in their efforts to crush the Boko Haram. On Friday, the Nigerian
military recaptured more towns in Adamawa and Yobe States, keeping it free for
the residents to return to their homes. The Defence Headquarters said troops
flushed out Boko Haram terrorists from Gulag, Madagali Local Government Area in
Adamawa State and Bara in Gulani LGA in neighbouring Yobe State. “Troops have
finally routed terrorists from Bara, the Headquarters of Gulani Local
Government Area of Yobe State and Gulag, the Headquarters of Madagali Local
Government Area of Adamawa State in the early hours of today, Friday . “The
fierce fighting that preceded the clearing of towns and other communities
resulted in appreciable casualties on the terrorists, the capture of some of
them, the recovery and destruction of arms, thousands of assorted rounds ammunition
as well as vehicles and other equipment including; Anti-Aircraft Guns, General
Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Grenades, Multi-barrel bombs, Multi-barrel
Grenade Launchers, rifles and mortar guns,” a spokesman for the military, Major
General, Chris Olukolade, said in a statement. Other locations also cleared in
the course of the two days operation include, Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza,
Kamla and Bumsa.
