Military launches motorbike battalion, reopens Borno highways

THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the weekend launched the Army Combat Motorbikes Battalion at the 25 Task Force Brigade Damboa in Borno State.

According to Buratai, this will ensure easy access to difficult “desert and forest terrains” in the ongoing military counter-insurgency and terrorism war against Boko Haram in the North East sub-region of the country.

He also announced that the army has re-opened the 87-kilometre Maiduguri-Dambao road and all major highways linking Maiduguri with other parts of the country, after being shut for about three years due to terrorist attacks.

Buratai said: “We intend to use the motorbikes effectively to ensure that our roads are kept safe and the terrorists are pursued anywhere they go.”

He added that the motorbikes were fitted with firepower and communication gadgets for effective performance.

“The reach of these motorbikes will be a very important element in ensuring that our troops improve on the success already achieved,” Buratai stated.

On the reopened roads, the COAS said the army would work towards securing the lives and property of motorists plying the roads.

“The road will be entrusted into the hands of the Brigade Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade. I do not want to hear any case of attack on innocent civilians or motorists on the road henceforth. Our troops will be on alert 24 hours to ensure that the road is kept open,” he said.

The Chief of Army Staff who is on a three-day visit to army formations in Borno commended troops for the successes recorded in the war against insurgency in Borno and the North East at large, adding that the Nigerian Army was deploying new technological advancement to effectively prosecute the war against terrorism.

He also inspected army formations and equipment at the Army Headquarters task force battalion Gajiram in Nganzai local council, Delwa task force battalion headquarters and Damboa Army 25 task force headquarters.

The COAS also launched posters of the second batch of 100 wanted Boko Haram terrorists. He charged people to be vigilant so as to identify any of the fleeing insurgents with the help of the posters.

The Army late last year published the first list of 100 suspected members of the terrorist sect, wanted by the military and other security agencies.