The All Progressives Congress has commended the Service
Chiefs for showing what it described as leadership by example
by ‘personally’ leading the ongoing “stepped-up fight” against
Boko Haram.

It sees the development as a breath of fresh air in the counter-
insurgency battle.

The party said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,.
APC believed that the report that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-
Gen. Tukur Buratai, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar, were personally coordinating the efforts of
their troops in the theatre of war was the best news to have
emerged from the front line of the Boko Haram battle.

It added, ”There can be no bigger boost to the morale of the
gallant troops, who are combating Boko Haram than the sight of
their Service Chiefs personally leading the charge from one
village to another, battling the insurgents or flying in a
reconnaissance aircraft coordinating the various NAF platforms
involved in the operation to provide close air support to ground
forces.

”By their actions, Lt.-Gen. Buratai and Air Marshal Abubakar
have shown that they care deeply for their troops and are
determined to lead them to beat the deadline set by President
Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram insurgency.”

It described the Service Chiefs and the troops they led as pride
to the military and Nigeria.

APC reiterated its earlier call on Nigerians to continue to
support, in all ways possible, the nation’s gallant men and
women, who were making every sacrifice, including the
supreme sacrifice, to keep the country safe.

Meanwhile, the party also commended the state governors,
mostly in the North-West, who have decided to work together to
address the security challenges in the area, especially the
worsening cases of cattle theft, which had been negatively
affecting the economic well being of the people of the region.

It said the efforts, which had led to the recovery of over 3,000
cows and the arrests of many bandits by the joint security task
force, set up by the states, must continue unhindered.
”Cattle rustling and the other security challenges in the North-
West in particular are all inter-linked and must be addressed
holistically.

“This is why we are delighted that the governors of states within
and outside the North-West, that is Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina,
Kebbi, Niger, Kano and Sokoto states, have decided to pool their
resources to ensure that there is no hideout for criminals or
terrorists,” APC said.