B/Haram: Defence Minister, CAS go arms-shopping in Moscow

B/Haram: Defence Minister, CAS go arms-shopping in Moscow

Efforts to consolidate on the ongoing war against terror­ism got a boost as the De­fence Minister, Air Marshal Mon­sur Dan-Ali and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abuba­kar, yesterday night departed for Russia to purchase vital military hardware needed to sustain the tempo of aggression against the terrorists.

Competent sources in the De­partment of State Service (DSS) disclosed to our reporters that the duo left for Moscow to inspect the war planes ordered by Nigeria in order to give the Boko Haram el­ements a final push and ensure they never harassed any commu­nity once such an area is cleared.

 

Specifically, the top brass offi­cials left Abuja to purchase two Mi-35 Attack Helicopters and 10 Mushak Super Trainers from Russia.

 

According to the source, which pleaded for anonymity, “this is towards the commencement of re-equipping of the Nigerian military. This time, government wants to ensure that Boko Haram insurgents never return to any community once they are flushed out.

 

“The military will utilise these war planes to carry out recon­naissance missions and rescue operations and also provide need­ed aerial support to our troops. What happened in the last dis­pensation is gradually being sur­mounted.

 

“Because of the current successes recorded against Boko Haram, they have not just been degraded but the morale of the officers and men fighting in the war theatre is very high”.

 

Nigeria suffered severe interna­tional military blockade since the insurgents began their debilitating activities leading to the take-over of more than 12 local government ar­eas in the North-East geo-political zone.

Also, efforts made by the military authorities during the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to purchase needed ammunition were frustrated, leading to sourc­ing of arms from the black mar­ket and the consequent embar­rassment to the country.