Major General Olukolade also urged Nigerians not to lose hope or be disenchanted, but to remain steadfast and supportive of the military as it conducted its counterinsurgency operations.
As the statement was being issued, SaharaReporters learnt that the township of Gulak in Adamawa State, close to Madagali, has also fallen to Boko Haram insurgents.
Just days after Boko Haram took Bama, Borno State’s second-largest city, Nigeria’s military forces on Friday vowed to defeat the insurgency amidst news that the town of Gulak, Adamawa State has just been overran by Boko Haram militants.
In a statement signed by Major General Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defense Information, he underlined a “sense of apprehension” on account of what he called the current challenges in the counter-terrorism efforts in the northeast of the country.
Major General Chris Olukolade reiterated the pledge and commitment previously made in a briefing to the Joint Committee on Defense of the National Assembly that everything would be done to reverse the situation and defeat the “rampaging” terrorists.
“While welcoming all the concerns shown by Nigerians and a section of the international community following the increased menace and activities of terrorists, it is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, regardless of any odd”, Olukolade said.
Major General Olukolade also urged Nigerians not to lose hope or be disenchanted, but to remain steadfast and supportive of the military as it conducted its counterinsurgency operations.
As the statement was being issued, SaharaReporters learnt that the township of Gulak in Adamawa State, close to Madagali, has also fallen to Boko Haram insurgents.
Sources claimed that Nigerian troops from Task Force Mike, who were drawn from the Special Operation Battalion and the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos, fled the area after the militants overran the town. However, military sources said the soldiers, who number about 300, withdrew to Mubi, Adamawa State.
Gulak, which fell to Boko Haram militants today, had been previously chosen by Nigeria’s security forces as a staging ground for retaking Madagali from the militants.