BEVERLY HILLS, January 15, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday arrived Maiduguri, Borno State, in a surprise visit to the troubled state that has witnessed devastating daily Boko Haram attacks.
The President, who was received at the Maiduguri airport by Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, was accompanied by the service chiefs, the NSA and other security officials.
A Presidency statement said the President undertook the surprise visit on the occasion of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day to meet with officers and men of the Armed Forces currently in the frontline of the war against terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, President Jonathan visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri to thank them for their patriotic and courageous service to the nation, the President’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, said in the statement.
“The President told officers and soldiers of the Division that the nation was very proud of them and grateful for their dedication and commitment to the defence of the civilian population against terrorists and violent extremists.
“President Jonathan also assured the troops that the Federal Government will continue to do everything possible to ensure that they get the weapons, equipment, welfare and logistics support they require to completely rout the insurgents and restore full security and normalcy to affected parts of the country.
“Describing the troops as a special breed of men who were undertaking a great assignment for their fatherland, the President assured them that all necessary action was being taken to address challenges facing them in their operations against Boko Haram,” the statement said.
“In terms of equipment and logistics, we have already made considerable progress since the insurgency started and we will continue to improve in that regard until your operations are successfully concluded,” he told the soldiers.
The statement also said, “President Jonathan also toured wards of the 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services Centre where he met with soldiers recovering from injuries sustained in operations against Boko Haram. He wished them speedy recovery.
“Before leaving the Borno State capital, President Jonathan visited over 900 displaced persons from Baga at a camp in the city.
“The President commiserated with the displaced persons on the losses they suffered during the attack on their town by Boko Haram.
“He promised them that the Federal Government will strive to make their stay in the camps more comfortable while it continues to do all within its powers to restore peace and security to enable them return to their homes soon.
“Terrorism and insurgency have been very traumatic for all of us. I feel particularly disturbed when I hear of our people being displaced within their own country.
“I assure you and other displaced persons that Government is working very hard to ensure that you do not remain in these camps for too long.
“I know that many of your houses have been destroyed. We will assist you financially so that you can rebuild your homes and return to them gradually,” President Jonathan told the displaced persons.
The President thanked the Red Cross and other international organizations who have been assisting in the provision of relief materials to the displaced persons.
He also charged local, state and federal government officials to work with greater harmony and cooperation in rendering support to the displaced persons.
“I do not want to be hearing conflicting reports on support being given to them. Government is one and we must all work together to assist our people whenever the need arises.
“We must cooperate maximally and work together at the local government, state and federal levels to ensure that our people who are unfortunately displaced from their homes get the best possible treatment,” President Jonathan said.
Meanwhile, THEWILL can report that soldiers kept Maiduguri motorists off the roads throughout the duration of the President’s visit, as part of security measures. All key roads in the city were also barricaded as assault helicopters hovered in the skies of Maiduguri all through the President’s visit.
Meanwhile, THEWILL can report that soldiers kept Maiduguri motorists off the roads throughout the duration of the President’s visit, as part of security measures. All key roads in the city were also barricaded as assault helicopters hovered in the skies of Maiduguri all through the President’s visit.
The President was in Maiduguri from 3.pm until 6.pm when he departed the city for Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
More than 20, 000 civilians have been killed since the Boko Haram escalated deadly attacks in northern Nigeria. Thousands have also been displaced.
President Jonathan of the PDP, who has received criticisms over his handling of the Boko Haram insurgency, faces a tough re-election battle at the polls on february 14, 2015, running neck-in-neck with the opposition’s General Muhammadu Buhari.
