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.
