From Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
As the last stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorist sect, Sambisa forest, in Borno State finally fell to the Nigerian troops, a civil advocacy group known as the Concerned Professionals Congress (CPC) has strongly condemned erroneous reports making the rounds in the nation that military authorities lacked welfare packages for their servicing officers and bereaved families.
While declaring that such reports was a calculated plot by some interest groups to incriminate and undermine the image of the military in the eyes of the public, the group commended the Military for their gallantry in the capture of the Sambisa forest, Boko Haram Headquarters.
Addressing a press conference jointly by the Chief Media Strategist, Mr. Emeka and the Regional Rapporteur, Baba Al- Kasim in Bauchi, yesterday, the group rejected unsubstantiated claims against the military and Security institutions by organisations who portray them in a bad light to achieve their objectives.
The group noted that it had a consultative meeting in Bauchi where it reviewed and evaluated the developments on the ongoing anti-terror military campaign in the North East in the last one year,and applauded the successes recorded by the military in the war against insurgency and other criminalities by all Nigerians.
According to CPC “We commend and salute the Armed Forces of Nigeria for displaying great combat capacity thereby providing the necessary strategic and conducive space for government’s politically negotiated option towards releasing all persons in captivity and fast tracking the peace process in the North East.
“We wish to appeal to all Nigerians to close ranks and offer support to our troops and their commanders some of who have not seen their families for more than two years because they have resolved to ensure safety, security and stability to our nation.
“The CPC is committed to to promoting peace, unity and stability in the country as well as galvanise necessary public support and understanding for our gallant troops and their able commanders until we see the end of terror in our land.
But for their sacrifices of our soldiers, criminal elements would have continued to wreck havoc on our people and the nation,”it added.
It further stated that it is a known fact that the Boko Haram elements have completely lost ground in the North East,but however lamented about the emergence of reports to denigrate the military bordering on alleged lack of welfare to the troops operating on the war front.
It said that on the welfare of servicemen, the military authorities has since been carrying out a system that practically guarantees necessary succour and cushioning to families of officers in the event of retirements, incapacitation or death.
“There is an efficient administration of a life insurance scheme for service personnel who die in active service in addition to a robust scholarship scheme that officers their children four slots from primary to university level”
“The service men and retirees are entitled to amongst others, free medical service anywhere including other incentives such as the Benevolent Fund that addresses unforseen personal challenges” The group said
According to the group, ignorance of the carefully laid-out procedures for access by servicemen and their families to these wonderful welfare scheme is largely responsible for the misrepresentations of the military, but noted that delays may arise in the cause of exhausting the necessary procedures for accessing the welfare incentives because adequate care must be taken to shield the personnel from fall victims of fraudsters.
It appealed to Nigerians to close ranks and support the troops and some commanders who have not seen thier families for more than two years because they have resolved to ensure the safety security and stability of the nation.
