Minister of Defence Chris Musa says Nigeria has lost courageous officers and men to Boko Haram/ISWAP in recent operations.
He revealed this to State House correspondents after a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
Gen Musa said, “We have lost a number of very, very courageous officers and men. Highly regrettable, but we want to assure Nigerians of the commitment we are putting on the ground to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secure.”
The Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed and Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi; Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye.
He, however, told Nigerians not to be discouraged by this, adding that terrorists and bandits were suffering more casualties than security forces.
“Our appeal to Nigerians is not to get tired, not to be discouraged, because sometimes when you hear the news, you think it is just what is happening, but it is not. It’s far from that.
“The terrorists, the bandits, are taking more casualties. Their commanders are being killed,” he said.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that terrorists have killed many troops and civilians following attacks on military bases in Ngoshe, Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok in Borno and Yobe States resulting in casualties among security personnel and civilians.
Last week, three commanding officers in charge of forward operations bases were killed in coordinated attacks on security formations in the North-East.
