The era of insecurity, especially the Boko Haram insurgence would be a thing of the past before the end of December 2016, a military official said on Monday.
At meeting with the kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, the out-gone Commandant of the 22 Armoured Brigades of the Nigerian Army in Sobi Ilorin, Brigadier General Benjamin Sawyer, said, that the military was determined to end the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists in the region.
Military onslaught had heightened in the region, with focus on Sambisa Forest, to flush out the terrorists from the area seen as their safe haven.
Brigadier General Sawyer was at the meeting with his successor, Brigadier Sulyman Idris.
Addressing the governor on the purpose of the visit, Mr Sawyer explained that having been transferred from the state to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, one of the volatile states in the northeast, there is the need to inform and introduce the new helmsman to the governor.
He also noted that initially, there were lots of worries with the choice of 22 Brigade being deployed to the northeast, but however assured the governor that the personnel were capable of providing the needed security to keep the state safe and secure.
The Army Chief then stressed the military’s determination to tackle the issue of Boko Haram.
He added that with the directive from the Chief of Army Staff, the insurgents “would be a thing of the past by the end of this month”.
In response to this, the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their bravery in the fight against insurgents in the country and reiterated his readiness to continue to strengthen the relationship with security organisations in the state.
According to Ahmed, the Nigerian Army is a pride to the nation and has demonstrated sufficient competence to secure the nation against internal and external aggression.
He added that given the enabling environment, the army had the capacity to protect and secure Nigeria.
The new commandant, Brigadier Idris, equally gave assurance of his readiness to ensure that security of lives and property are maintained in the state, while he sought the state government’s co-operation and support.
