Buratai commissions Wolf Officers Mess in Maiduguri; Assures Nigerians that hinterland roads will be opened
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has said that there is need to open up the hinter lands, especially Rann town, the headquarters of the Kala-Balge locate government, to checkmate the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and for people to return to their communities to start their normal lives.
General Buratai, who stated this while commissioning the newly renovated Wolf Officers Mess of the 7 Division in Old GRA, Maiduguri Saturday said “there is need to open up the area to checkmate the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and for economic activates to thrive.
“The theater commander Operation Lafiya Dole is the most powerful man in the Army second to the Chief of Army Staff, because he has 3 GOCs under his command and is always ready to mobilize troops within the theater. The Nigerian Army is proud of you and Nigerians must commend you,” Buratai added.
According to him 7 Divison has the largest area of responsibility within the theater and there is need for the officers and soldiers within the theater to relax after the hard days job at the war front. He said, however, that they must not compromise their stand while discharging their constitutional duty.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 7 Divison, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu called on officers to be responsible while at the Mess. According to him, the mess is their second home after the hard days job and assured Nigerians that they will not rest on their oars until they completely root out the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents.
Also speaking, Governor Kashim Shettima, who was represented by his commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan said “the Chief of Army Staff deserves the commendation of the entire nation, as Borno state was at the verge of falling under the Boko Haram caliphate before his appointment, but thanked God that when he took over in 2015 he reclaimed back all the Nigerian territories captured by Boko Haram and today no territory remains under them.
Meanwhile, General Buratai also received some officials of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, who were there to commend his efforts in restoring peace in the North-East.
The Director, North-East of the Bank, Alhaji Salihu Ngulde, said they were there to appreciate him and the military in general for restoring peace in the region, which has enabled them to re-open their branches except that of Kukawa and Malam Fatori which will be also re-open soon.
He said the financial institution will remain grateful to the military and promised to establish Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri to ease the transaction of officers and soldiers.
General Buratai said the fact that financial institutions have re-opened their branches indicates that peace has returned to the North-East and that very soon economic activities in the area will pick up.
