FG to recruit more soldiers over insurgency, banditry –Defence Minister… Says ‘Don’t Fear any bullet’

The Defence Minister, Magashi Bashir, has said Federal Government would soon commence recruitment of officers and soldiers across the country.

Speaking at the headquarters of the Theatre Command in Maiduguri when he led The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and other service chiefs on an operational visit, the Magashi said the move was part of the government’s strategy to meet up manpower shortfalls as the country battles insurgency and banditry.

The Minister said the motive of the visit was to assess the fighting spirit of the troops of operation Lafiya Dole and also to motivate them.

Addressing the troops, Magashi intimated them of the government’s plan to recruit more hands to relieve battle fatigued soldiers.

“Very soon we will embark on the recruitment of other soldiers and officers so that we improve the manpower holding of our armed forces,” he said.

“We will bring new equipment, new skills in which I will like all of you to benefit from to enable you to be more proficient, more effective in this assignment you’re doing. We have lost time; we are now almost ten years in this operation.

“There are many other operations that we are doing in terms of banditry and other things in this country and I am sure that given the right tools, you will do this country proud. We believe in you, your training, professionalism and we believe you can do the country the requirements of beating the Boko haram as we have it now.

“There are a lot of you outside in other places both in the northwest, northcentral and even in the southwest and south-east. Please see this as a sacrifice, see this profession as the profession that it only God you should fear.”

Speaking further, the Defence Minister told journalists that the government takes the welfare of the troops serious, hence the directive for proper documentation of all issues.

He added, “We have already directed that all their problems be put on the paper to enable us to study it and come up with a plan.

“We have also studied their requirements and we have come here to verify and see how best we can proceed so that we can end this war.”

‘Don’t fear any bullet’

The Defence Minister, Bashir also told the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole not to fear any bullet from the terrorists.

He said, “Don’t fear any bullet, the bullet will come and it will go,” he said.

“If you are not meant to die by a bullet you will never die but if you are meant to die by a bullet, even in your bedroom bullet will come and reach you, which is what I experienced during service.”

According to the Minister, the motive of the visit was to assess the fighting spirit of the troops of operation Lafiya Dole and also to motivate them.

He also intimated the troops of the Federal Government’s plan to recruit more hands to relieve battle fatigued soldiers.

Magashi added, “Very soon we will embark on the recruitment of other soldiers and officers so that we improve the manpower holding of our armed forces.

“We will bring new equipment, new skills in which I will like all of you to benefit from to enable you to be more proficient, more effective in this assignment you’re doing. We have lost time; we are now almost ten years in this operation.

“There are many other operations that we are doing in terms of banditry and other things in this country and I am sure that given the right tools, you will do this country proud. We believe in you, your training, professionalism and we believe you can do the country the requirements of beating the Boko haram as we have it now.”