The All Progressives Congress has hailed the Service Chiefs for showing what it described as leadership by example by ‘personally’ leading the ongoing “stepped-up fight” against Boko Haram.
The governing party viewed the development as a breath of fresh air in the counter-insurgency battle.
The party said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
APC believed that reports the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, were personally coordinating the efforts of their troops in the theatre of war was the best news to have emerged from the front line of the Boko Haram battle.
It added, “There can be no bigger boost to the morale of the gallant troops, who are combating Boko Haram than the sight of their Service Chiefs personally leading the charge from one village to another, battling the insurgents or flying in a reconnaissance aircraft coordinating the various NAF platforms involved in the operation to provide close air support to ground forces.
“By their actions, Lt.-Gen. Buratai and Air Marshal Abubakar have shown that they care deeply for their troops and are determined to lead them to beat the deadline set by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram insurgency”.
It described the Service Chiefs and the troops they led as a pride to the military and Nigeria.
APC reiterated its earlier call on Nigerians to continue to support, in all ways possible, the nation’s gallant men and women, who were making every sacrifice, including the supreme sacrifice, to keep the country safe.
Meanwhile, the party also commended the state governors, mostly in the North-West, who have decided to work together to address the security challenges in the area, especially the worsening cases of cattle rustling, which had been negatively affecting the economic well-being of the people of the region.
It said the efforts, which had led to the recovery of over 3,000 cows and the arrests of many bandits by the joint security task force, set up by the states, must continue unhindered.
“Cattle rustling and the other security challenges in the North-West in particular are all inter-linked and must be addressed holistically.
“This is why we are delighted that the governors of states within and outside the North-West, that is Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Kano and Sokoto states, have decided to pool their resources to ensure that there is no hideout for criminals or terrorists”, APC said.
