President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to end the Boko Haram madness within the shortest possible time.
This, he said, would be achieved with procurement of modern fighting equipment.
The president spoke in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday, when he declared open the fourth annual Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Conference.
The quarterly conference reviews army’s activities, including operations and exercises with a view to improving on them.
The president used the occasion to address troops on the frontline in the North East and assured
the people of the region of his administration’s determination to prosecute the counterinsurgency to logical conclusion.
His visit was a morale booster for officers and soldiers in the aftermath of killing of over 100 soldiers at Metele, northern Borno, by Boko Haram, last weekend.
Buhari, who was the special guest of honour, commended the leadership of the Army for moving the conference earlier slated to hold in Benin, Edo State to Maiduguri.
He promised that his administration would continue to give maximum support to the military, noting that that one of the cardinal objectives of his government is to ensure adequate security of lives and property of the citizenry.
“This conference is timely considering the fact that this government is determined to end security challenges in the North East, Niger Delta and farmers/herdsmen clashes in some parts of the country.
I want to convey our deep condolences to the families of heroic gallant officers and soldiers who paid the supreme price while maintaining law and order in our fatherland.
“As we approach the 2019 general election, I want to urge members of our security forces to remain non-partisans and level up to the expectations on the rules of engagements. I want to specifically condole with family of late General Idris Alkali and the Nigerian army for his untimely death in the hands of some evil-doers. I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
“As president, and by the powers conferred on me, I assure you that government will procure modern fighting equipment to end the madness of Boko Haram and other acts of our enemies. I want to also assure you that government is doing everything to increase the welfare of Nigerian army,” the president said.