A lot has been said about the way the Nigerian military has been prosecuting the ongoing operation to sack terrorists and restore normalcy to our once peaceful country. For over a decade now, our security forces have been able to wage a grinding but successful battle, including artillery duels, trench warfare and street fighting against terrorists in the North East leading to the degradation of Boko Haram and ISWAP in the region, and bringing respite to the residents in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi.
The campaign would not have been possible without heavy sacrifices from our gallant troops who left their families, slept in trenches and dangerous forests, risking their lives to save our country from being overrun by terrorists.
These heroes suffered mental health crisis and post-traumatic distress disorder. Their families suffered for years from anxiety, thinking they may never wake up to see their breadwinners again.
Even though Nigeria survived and recaptured almost every human settlement previously lost as a result of tactical retreat to save our troops, Nigerians are gradually coming to terms with the reality that defeating terror and restoring normalcy to our country is a gradual process which requires time, support from the general population and patience because our soldiers are fighting the most dangerous enemies who have nothing to lose.
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Their prime target is to destroy our morale and make us lose interest in living as a united nation.
It is noteworthy that Nigeria has managed to win this war without any serious support from any foreign power as our traditional Western allies refused to supply us with lethal weapons on the pretext of our human right records while they keep supplying weapons to countries with poorer human right records than Nigeria.
The war against terror is not over yet as our country is bogged down waging another round of offensive in the directions of Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna. I believe Nigerian troops will sooner or later clear these dreaded terrorists from our forests without inflicting heavy damage on the civilian population whom the terrorists often use as human shield.
Nigerians must continue to rally behind our troops through thick and thin. We must not be distracted by the misinformation campaign to degrade them.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Bashir Aliyu wrote from Gombe Road, Bauchi
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