Journey To Aggresively End B’Haram Insurgency Has Begun, says Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has visited the twin border towns of Mubi and Baga in Borno and Adamawa states on Thursday to get “firsthand information” on the current Boko Haram insurgency war by Nigerian troops.

  Jonathan disclosed this yesterday to newsmen in Maiduguri, immediately he returned from Baga at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in the afternoon.

   He said: “Gentlemen of the press, our journey to end this Boko Haram insurgency has just begun aggressively. First and foremost I went to see our soldiers and to encourage them on their gallantry efforts. I also went to convey the appreciation of Nigerians to them.”

  On his surprise visits to reclaimed towns, he said that his trip was to examine Nigerian weapons and communities affected by the insurgency.

  “I also went to inspect the weapons we have and to visit communities devastated by the excesses of Boko Haram. I just went to see things for myself,” Jonathan said yesterday at the NAF base.

 The President explained: “I know there are government departments that will handle the rehabilitation of damaged communities. It is good for you as a president to appreciate things yourself so that when people are briefing you, you know exactly what they are saying.”

  He also expressed optimism that the Boko Haram insurgency will end very soon.

  “I am very hopeful this time around that the journey to end Boko Haram insurgency has commenced very aggressively and will soon get to an end,” he assured.

  Jonathan was accompanied by the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Mashal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, the National Security Adviser to the President, Col. Sambo Dasuki and the

Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba among others, in his visits to the two war-torn towns in the North East sub-region of the country.