The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, on Saturday, debunked speculation that the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East are more armed and sophisticated than Nigeria’s security forces.
General Minimah, who debunked the speculation shortly after he visited 60 injured soldiers and officers at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, in company of the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau, and other service chiefs, insisted that the country’s military has more sophisticated weapons and manpower to defeat the insurgents.
The injured Army personnel, consisting of 57 soldiers and 3 officers, were wounded while on a special mission called “Operation Zaman Lafia” in Borno State.
They were shot by the Boko Haram terrorists, and later evacuated to the military hospital in Kaduna for treatment, and in line with military tradition, the Minister of Defence presented them medals on their hospital beds.
While consoling the victims, the Chief of Army Staff said that those with critical cases would be flown abroad for further treatment while the military authorities would ensure that their welfare and that of their families are adequately taken care of.
He said that the visit was part of the welfare programme of the military to rekindle their fighting spirit and battle efficiency.
The Corps Commander Medicals of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Obashina Ogunbiyi, who had been in charge of the treatment, gave assurances that the injured officers and soldiers were in stable condition.
