From Mike SOGBOLA:

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai on Tuesday admitted that the Nigerian Army has had occasional hitches in the ongoing war against terrorism in the North East.

He however said that despite this, under his leadership the task at hand would be done and his men would never be deterred.

The COAS made this declaration at the Maimalari Military Cantonment Cemetery, Maiduguri, Borno State while laying to rest the remains of the officer and two soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice while on clearance operations along Mauli-Borgozo axis on Monday.

The late Lieutenant Colonel Yusuf Ibrahim Aminu was the Commanding Officer (CO), of 154 Task Force Battalion Borgozo, was on a clearance operation along Mauli- Borgozo when his vehicle climbed on a buried Improvised Explosive Device which detonated, killing him and two other soldiers with many others wounded.

The COAS, who commiserated with the family of the deceased, used the opportunity to again commend the efforts of the entire troops of Operation Lafiya Dole in the war on terror and charged them to remain steadfast, more committed and professional for the sake of Nigeria.

The sacrifices of all the deceased officers and soldiers of the NA is no doubt painful to all, but that will further ginger the serving gallant troops to do more to ensure that the nation remains secure and peaceful, Buratai said.

Present at the solemn occasion were the Chief of Training and Operations ‘Army’, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, Theatre Commander OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE, Major General Benson Akinroluyo, Corp Commander Engineers, Major General John Malu, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brig Gen Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, Corps Commander Supply and Transport, Major General Victor Offiong, Principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters, Theatre Command and HQ 7 Division amongst others.