Boko Haram: Military deploys hi-tech mine sweeper in North- East •We’re now better equipped: Army Chief

Nigeria's Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur
Buratai, on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the troops on
the front line are now better equipped for the counter-
terrorism war.
The army chief gave the assurance while assessing the
equipment recently acquired to prosecute the war against
terror in Nigeria's north east region.
Buratai further told journalists that despite pockets of
desperate attacks by the insurgents, troops have been
making progress.
Buratai has also said the collaboration between Nigerian
army and neighbouring countries under the Multi National
Joint Task Force (MNJTF) arrangement is paying off.
He listed Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), unmanned
camera drones and desert motorbikes as part of the
equipment acquired.
Buratai said that the Nigerian Army is effectively using
satellite and communication facilities for proper coordination,
maintaining that the war is now technology driven.
Also, the Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that it had
deployed its newly acquired hi-tech mine clearing equipment
in the ongoing military operation against Boko Haram in the
North East.
This is contained in a statement issued by Acting Army
spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, on update of the counter-
insurgency.
Usman said other supporting weapons and ammunitions had
also been launched in the ongoing operations across the
area.
He said the commissioned equipment were the first mine
clearing machines in the inventory of the Nigerian Army and
among the best in the world.
The army spokesman said the introduction of new equipment
for the northeast operation had begun to yield results.
Usman disclosed that Nigerian troops in joint operation with
their Cameroonian counterparts had destroyed many of the
insurgents hideout around Bank-Kumashe axis.
He said several suspected insurgents were killed in the
particular operation while different kinds of items were
recovered.
According to Usman, 150 persons, mainly children, were
rescued at Kodo community in Borno by troops in the
ongoing offensive against the insurgents.
He said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Butatai, while
taking briefs from field officers at the command and control
centre in Maiduguri, commended the efforts of the troops.
(Channels TV/NAN)