From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede yesterday gave a marching order to the Nigerian Army to flush out bandits terrorising the people of Baruten and Kaiama Local Governments,kwara State and Borgu in Kainji forest in Niger State within one month.
Addressing troop at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara state yesterday, Oloyede said that the Nigerian Army would not allow the insurgency in the North East to escalate to the North Central.
The Army chief said that it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Army to protect the territorial integrity of the nation, adding that,”no single part of the territory will be allowed to integrate or be taken away by insurgents in any form, either in form of bandits or boko Haram or whatever name they may call it.”
The COAS who inspected the military guard of honour at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment,said,”I am giving you one month from now to recover all territories in Baruten, Kaiama and other areas in Kainji forest to the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”
He said that the bandits must be flushed out of the Nigerian territory in the next one month.
“All of you have promised to fight and recover whatever the insurgents might have taken from the country and I believe you will keep the promise.”
Oluyede,who explained that he was going round the country to ensure that the country becomes better,said,”the country is having some challenges and we have to push the insurgents out of the country.In the next one month, I don’t want to see insurgents in our borders again.”
The COAS promised better welfare, feeding, education facilities , uniforms for members of the Armed Forces, adding,” I want to see Soldiers become good medical doctors, engineers and other professionals.
“We have tried to intervene by providing 100,000 units of Uniform per month, while N1billion is allocated to feeding for the soldiers on monthly basis and we have also improved the accomodation facilities.”