President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday at the Eagle Square, thrilled soldiers at the frontline in Borno State when he spoke with them via newly acquired state-of-the-earth military virtual communication van called Mobile Command Post (MPC).
The Mobile Command Post, according to the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, has the capacity to simultaneously interface, from anywhere in Nigeria, with both air and ground troops at the frontline.
Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, also urged the air troops to use the latest communication technology in locating the 219 missing Chibok schoolgirls and promptly provide necessary intelligence for the ground troops to move in for rescue.
The President, who after laying the wreath of honour in symbolic respect to the fallen heroes, during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja, was later led to the MPC where he was linked virtually with the troops in Maiduguri and those at Bita, Izge and Gwoza.
Flanked by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olanisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Tukur Buratai, as well as other service chiefs, Buhari spoke directly with the troops through the Deputy Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General L.E.O Irabor.
“This innovation is quite impressive and, I believe, a morale booster for our troops. I congratulate you very much in indeed,” said Buhari to the military chiefs.
To the commander of the troops in Borno, Buhari said, “I hope you have been able to cope in spite of the weather over there; I know it is dusty, it is cold; and from the SITREP (situation report) I have been receiving, I am really impressed and I thank you and congratulate you for doing your best within the circumstances. Thank you very much, indeed,” the President told the Commander in Maiduguri.
The President further informed the troops that his government and the people of Nigeria are very much concerned about the welfare of the troops.
“We are all concerned here about the troops’ performance as well as the rest of the nation; I hope they are in touch with their families back at home and I hope everybody is fine there. I assure you that government is doing its best to ensure that troops are provided the best that is possible in terms of military hardware and ensure efficiency in logistics; and we have ensured that you are paid your allowances so that your family will be happy back in the barracks. Thank you very much, indeed!”
Done with the ground troops commander, the MCP was switched to connect with the Air Force troops that were at the moment airborne and carrying out air surveillance over southern parts of Borno State where Boko Haram terrorists had their strongholds.
From inside his aircraft, the Commander of the Air Operation, Air Vice Marshall Isiaka Amao briefed Buhari live on the ongoing air patrol being carried out over Bita, Izge and Gwoza axis of Borno State.
AVM Amao informed the President, “Bita has been a very stronghold for Boko Haram and it used to be their major logistics base and our ground troops, as you can see from the footage we are beaming right away, have taken that position. Our ground troops have taken over most of those locations and they are on serious mop-up operation there.”
As the aircraft hovered towards Izge and Gwoza, AVM Amao told the keenly attentive Buhari: that “even on the Sambisa Forests, we have carried out some strikes and our ground troops have moved in… Gwoza has been where the Boko Haram has declared as their caliphate but our troops have taken over all the places….We have been able to reduce their capability.”
Beaming some closer footage of destroyed and burnt communities, the Air Operations Commander explained further that “Your Excellency, Sir, once we advance to take over a town, because the Boko Haram knows we are going to overpower them, they would quickly set the whole village on fire and even bomb down most of the structures there”.
Visibly impressed, Buhari gave a direct order concerning the abducted Chibok grils to the officer in the field saying, “The nation is earnestly waiting for you to provide the intelligence on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls; yesterday I had a meeting with the parents of the Chibok girls. We want the Air Force to locate and provide the credible intelligence while the ground forces will develop tactics and strategy to recover them. We all wish you the best of 2016!”
The President was also shown graphic footage of the city of Maiduguri through the cutting edge military communication kit even as he was told that so many state of the earth CCTV cameras have been mounted in strategic locations that would in the future be able to detect any approaching hostile groups like Boko Haram, even from afar.
-Leadership