Insurgency: Nigerians Must Support The Military To Do Well, Says CDS

Air-Marshal-Alex-BadehThe Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on Wednesday, said the military would remain focused in the discharge of its duties “in spite of unreasonable criticisms”.

Badeh made the disclosure when members of Social Welfare Network Initiative, an NGO, paid a solidarity visit to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

He said “no matter the criticisms or what people do, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to do what it had sworn to do.

“We swore to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to defend the integrity of our states.

“It is your military, you don’t have another one so, encourage your military to do well. We must all be patriotic as Nigerians to defend our country”.

Badeh, however, said that what the country was fighting was above Boko Haram, noting that the group which started in Maiduguri as a small group had now gone out of hand.

“It is now an Al- Qaeda in West Africa and Central Africa. We have evidence from people outside Nigeria fighting with Nigeria so it is no longer Boko Haram, it is Al- Qaeda we are fighting.

“You are aware that we have international partners working with us to release our girls and our girls will be released”. Earlier, the National Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Emmauel Osemeka, had told the defence chief that the visit was in solidarity and support for the military.

Osemeka commended the army’s efforts to tackle the insurgency problem in the country and other vices, saying “members of the armed forces have been on the streets, in the bushes, on lonely roads, along the border stretch and across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

“We are not unmindful of the supreme sacrifice being paid every second, minute, hour, day and week by our brothers and sisters to protect our territorial integrity”.

“We are proud of our Armed Forces and will continue to support your efforts”. (NAN)