Jonathan pays surprise visit to Maiduguri, lauds troops for anti-terror efforts

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday paid a surprise visit to Maiduguri in the troubled North Eastern of Borno as Nigeria marked the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, President Jonathan was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Alex Bade, other service chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency.
 

The statement also stated that Jonathan visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri to appreciate them for their patriotic and courageous service to their fatherland. He told the troops that the Federal Government would continue to assist them and ensure that they got weapons, equipment, welfare and logistic support required to confront the insurgents and bring peace back to the troubled region.

Jonathan said  “in terms of equipment and logistics, we have already made considerable progress since the insurgency started and we will continue to improve in that regard until your operations are successfully concluded.’’

He toured wards of the 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services Centre, where he met with soldiers recovering from injuries sustained in operations against members of the Boko Haram sect and  visited over 900 displaced persons from Baga at a camp in the city.

The President stated that “terrorism and insurgency have been very traumatic for all of us. I feel particularly disturbed when I hear of our people being displaced within their own country.

 “I assure you and other displaced persons that government is working very hard to ensure that you do not remain in these camps for too long.

“I know that many of your houses have been destroyed. We will assist you financially so that you can rebuild your homes and return to them gradually,” Jonathan said.