Nigerians who have not tasted or witnessed the wave of banditry and terrorism as it is currently in the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria, will not appreciate the level of President Buhari's commitment and the level of military intervention in these regions. The affected areas can give testament to the fact that the Nigerian military has come of age and comfortably pulled ranks with some European powers in terms of procurement of military hardware and intelligence management.
The men in uniform are adequately trained in the use of modern warfare technology and application.
Since the inception of President Buhari's administration and his decision to decisively end the scourge of insecurity threatening the corporate existence of the Nigerian State, he has not fallen short of his promises. The Commander-Chief, as his key action point, has assembled one of the most unprecedented patriotic and selfless Service Chiefs in the history of Nigeria.
The Joint Service Chiefs of the Nigerian Armed Forces have taken deliberate and straightforward steps to carry out the Presidential Order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces President Muhammadu Buhari.
I hear people say, Militarily, Nigeria is light years behind most developing countries. Attributing the Military's backwardness to massive corruption, malfeasance, and lack of intelligence gathering and sharing within the Military hierarchies.
These concerns are currently checked and redesigned by the Presidency in collaboration with the Service Chiefs.
This must be said, the Americans and other successful World powers having the much celebrated Navy Seals which combines sea, air, and land operations, did not achieve the fate with unwilling Military Service Chiefs. The fate was not achieved within a few years, it took decades of hard labor, dedication, patriotism, and discipline. The Seals are a specialized military covert operation team trained in the deployment and use of advanced military hardware, land, sea, and air combats. The Russians, Chinese, French, British to mention a few have this specialized tactical team to curb insurgency.
I make bold to state that, Nigeria now has whatever anybody thinks those developed countries have in terms of specialty and operations. The difference is the level or degree of specialty and more advanced sophisticated equipment. Painfully, Nigerians are underrating how much we have come as a military might since President took office.
Technically, the North East, North West, and parts of the North Central Zone are at war with insurgents. National cohesion is threatened on daily basis. The spate of banditry, the threat of Nigeria's unity, the proliferation of arms, and sophisticated weapons in Nigeria were alarming. In 2016, the Nigerian Army published 155 names of the most wanted insurgent commanders. Most of these terrorists have been told that Nigeria needs peace and tranquility.
The days of the sheep and goat loyalty are gone. Finally, the coast is now clear for the full operationalization of Nigerian Army Aviation; this implies that air assets for the Nigerian Military to combat insurgency and banditry in all trouble spots is expressly assured.
Nigeria is said to be in talks with the Turkish Government to acquire a squadron of the T-129 ATAK Helicopters, and the Turkish government is willing to assist us to fight insurgency per Eons intelligence.
Recently, Nigerian soldiers thank President Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff for providing them with Norinco ST1 105 MM Tank Destroyer.
The Nigerian Army has also gained ground by the procurement and deployment of the LG3 Automatic Grenade Launcher. The LG3 military hardware is among the most advanced in the World. It can fire 400 rounds per minute and has a range of 2, 200M.
The gallant and brave Tucano Combat Helicopter pilots are ensuring air support for the infantry command which gave rise to a senior bandit leader Bello Turji urging other bandits like him to release all persons in their captivity as he has done. The fear of the Tucano helicopters is the beginning of unconditional submission.
According to Africa Defence, "the SH5-105mm Self Propelled Howitzer epitomizes a resurgent Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army under President Buhari is better trained and equipped today than at any time in its history".
Advance countries like the United States of America with zero tolerance for terrorism and banditry have also volunteered air support with the sophisticated AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters delivered to Nigeria. This wicked-looking helicopter only takes orders from the pilot's command control boards with superlative precision on marked target. As it stands, bandits are surrendering by their numbers to the Nigerian military's infantry and air support superiority.
Nigeria is moving to a peaceful nation under Buhari's administration. Large-scale Insurgency is fast losing weight and will soon go into perpetual extinction before the end of 2023 as promised by one of the best leaders Nigeria has ever had, I bet some folks won't be happy with me on this.
The land is not safe for the terrorists, the air is of course a no-go area, and the sea has turned into the lion's den with the presence of new warships, patrol gunboats, and surveillance helicopters for the Nigerian Navy.
On January 6th, 2022, the Nigerian ever gallant troops inflicted heavy casualties on ISWAP terrorists after a four hour battle in Gwoza which is a former caliphate of Boko Haram in Borno State as 121 terrorists surrendered and were moved to Operation Safe Haven camp, Maiduguri, the State Capital fo actions. The successful prosecution of these operations became evident with the President's charge to the Service Chiefs coupled with the resilient patriotism of our brave Infantry Soldiers who deployed the Norinco ST1 105MM Tank Destroyer. From my research, Norinco ST1 can fire an estimated 15 rockets at a spot, and each rocket can travel a distance of 5km radius to destroy potential threats. It is said to have established terrifying fear into the terrorist camps.
Honestly, the military equipment enumerations I made here are just the tip of the iceberg as other military hardware are profiled "Highly Classified".
Knowing all these, somebody whose backyard is not on fire like that of our brothers in the North will sit in the comfort of his apartment to say that Buhari is not doing enough to eradiccate insecurity, and the military not been adequately equipped makes me laugh at their sarcasm. For me, these group of people have shown ignorance of the modern status of Nigeria's Military Ops.
It is high time we stop trying hard to bring down Nigeria as we develop and catch up with the rest of the world's elite countries because some of us hate a man (President Buhari) and a political party (APC).
May God bless President Muhammadu Buhari for fulfilling his promises and equipping the Military.
God bless Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for ensuring Buhari's emergence as the President and Commander - in- Chief of the Armed Forces.
May God bless and protect our gallant, brave, and patriotic soldiers, Airforce, and Navy out there in the forest, air, and sea defending our unity and Sovereignty.
I celebrate you all.
Sir Rowland Orlu wrote from Port Harcourt.
