Our Soldiers Fighting Sophisticated Terrorists, Say FG, Defence HQ

The federal government and the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday appealed to Nigerians to show understanding and rally round the military in their current war against terrorists, saying they are fighting “wartested, well-trained and highly sophisticated terrorists,” who have fought in Liberia and other war-torn countries.

They also revealed that a faction of Boko Haram has aligned with the global terror group, ISIS, to form the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), saying ISIS now has a strong foothold in West Africa - with Nigeria in the forefront of the battle against them.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Defence Headquarters’ Director of Information, Brig. Gen. JA Agim, made the appeal in Abuja while launching the national campaign in support of the Nigerian Army.

The Defence spokesman particularly appealed to the Nigerian media to work closely with the Nigerian Army in the war against terrorists, advising against media reports that tend to support and promote the deadly activities of the terrorists and demoralise the nation’s soldiers whom he said “stay awake day and night to protect and defend” the nation’s territory.

Earlier while speaking at the event attended by directors of information of Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army, the minister said the launch of the campaign became necessary because the men and women in uniform who are risking all, including making the supreme sacrifice, to keep the nation safe “deserve the support and prayers of all Nigerians, not vilification, insults and other acts” that are capable of dampening their morale.

“Recall that on January 8, 2019, we announced that we would soon launch a campaign to seek the support of the citizens for our troops, especially in the fight against insurgency. Today marks the fulfillment of that promise as we are here to formally launch the national campaign in support of the military.

“Why are we launching this national campaign in support of the military? Because we believe that the men and women in uniform who are risking all, including making the supreme sacrifice, to keep us safe deserve the support and prayers of all Nigerians, not vilification, insults and other acts that are capable of dampening their morale,” the federal government’s spokesman explained.