The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Kenneth Minimah has said that more troops and equipment had been deployed to Sambisa forest to enhance military operations there and flush out the terrorists from their last stronghold.

Speaking to journalists during the commissioning of the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Medical Centre in Jaji Kaduna State on Monday, General Minimah insisted that the military had neither retreated nor stopped the onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa forest or other parts of the north east.

In considering the future and long term perceptions of the critical role the Nigerian Army would play in contemporary local and international peacekeeping operations and the need to cater for the well-being of its troops, the Federal Republic of Germany through its Technical Assistance Group in Nigeria, constructed and equipped the medical centre, meant to cater for the immediate health needs of the troops.

The Army Chief expressed optimism that the facility would enhance the status of the Peacekeeping Centre as a centre of excellence.

He, therefore, called on the personnel to make judicious use of the medical facility.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zenner explained that the decision by his country to donate the medical centre to the Nigerian Army was due to the bilateral relations between Germany and Nigeria, especially in the areas of military support. He commended the Nigerian government for conducting a peaceful and credible elections which he said was the best ever in the history of the nation’s electoral process.

While calling on the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the democratic success, the German Ambassador gave the assurance of his country’s readiness to continue to partner with Nigeria to further develop its economy and democracy.

•Text courtesy of Channels TV. Photo shows Gen. Minimah.

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