MATELE ATTACK: We Will Provide Modern Equipment To End Boko Haram's Madness – Buhari Assures

President Muhammad Buhari Wednesday, pledged the supply of modern equipment to the Nigerian army to enable it combat and put to bed, what he termed 'madness' from the insurgents.

“As President and by the powers conferred on me, I assure you that government will procure modern fighting equipment to end the madness of Boko Haram and other acts of our enemies, he said.

Mr. President added, "I want to also assure you that government is doing everything to increase the welfare of the Nigerian Army.” 

Buhari gave the commitment in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital where he is presently taking part in the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

 In his first visit to the state since he assumed office in 2015, Buhari reiterated his condolence to the bereaved families of soldiers killed in the Sunday, November 18 attacked on the military base in Matele village, Borno, by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.

At the conference initially billed to hold at Benin, Edo State, Buhari said, “This Conference is timely, considering fact that this government is determined to end security challenges in the North East, Niger Delta and farmers/herdsmen clashes in some parts of the country.

” I want to convey our deep condolences to the families of heroic gallant officers and soldiers who paid the supreme price while maintaining law and order in our fatherland.

Mr. President and the Governor of Borno, Shettima at the Maiduguri International Airport Wednesday.

“As we approach the 2019 general elections, I want to urge members of our security forces to remain non partisans and leavel up to the expectations on the rules of engagements.

” I want to specifically condole with family of late General Idris Alkali and the Nigerian Army for his untimely death in the hands of some evils doers, as government, I want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.

It was gathered that Buhari was received by the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima  at the Maiduguri International Airport around 11:30am from where he proceeded to the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi before moving to the the venue of the Conference at the Command Guest Inn, Baga Road, Maiduguri to flag off the Conference.

In his welcome address, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali said, the Conference usually brings serving and retired Commanders and other Security agencies to brainstorm on the state ongoing operations against terrorists and other criminals in the country.

He expressed gratitude to President Buhari for giving enormous support to the military forces to confront series of security challenges bedevilling some parts of the country, especially north east and the Lake Chad Region.