Contrary to the wide spread insinuation that the Boko Haram sect terrorising the northeastern region has more sophisticated weapons than the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah yesterday cleared the air saying the army is more sophisticated in terms of weapons and ammunitions, than the insurgents.
According to him, “Insurgents are not more sophisticated in terms of weapons. Do they have ships and aircraft? Even what they have are stolen, so they cannot be more sophisticated, they do not have more sophisticated weapons than the army,” he stated.
The Army Chief made this known during a routine visit to the 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna where wounded officers and soldiers from all the theatres of the operations in the north-eastern states code named ‘Operation Zaman Lafia’ were receiving treatment.
He said the routine visit was also going to be used to present Purple Heart medals to the wounded but brave officers and soldiers in recognition of their gallant efforts towards the army’s continued determination to fight all forms of terrorism in the country.
According to the COAS, “we are here on a routine visit to 44 Military Hospital Kaduna and also to visit all the soldiers and officers who were wounded in action in all the theatres of Operation Zaman Lafia.
“We use the opportunity to award them medals, private war time medals of purple hearts as part of welfare programme which is being presented to them today by the Minister of Defence General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau (rtd), this is part of welfare program to rekindling of fighting spirit and troop efficiency among the soldiers and officers.
“It is also Part of the extension of the concern of the Nigeria army to officers or solders injured or killed during the operation.”
Fifty-seven soldiers and three officers who sustained various degrees of injuries during the operation Zaman Lafia operations in the North-East and were receiving treatment at the hospital were awarded the Purple Hearts medals by the Nigeria army.
Lieutenant General Minimah, also disclosed that there are mechanisms already put in place by the Nigerian army for all those killed in action for their families and that the process is being hastened to provide immediate succour to next of kin of those killed in action.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
