We are not deterred by the injury we sustained, we’re ready to go back and End Boko Haram madness in our land – sounded soldiers
By Madu Mohammed Maiduguri
Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army who were wounded in the ongoing fight against insurgency in various operation within the theater and are currently receiving treatment at the 7 Division Medical Centre, Maimalari cantonment Maiduguri have expressed readiness to join their colleagues at the battlefield to ensure that the determination of the Army to end Boko Haram Insurgency in 2021 is actualize.
Our correspondent who spoke to Some soldiers who are currently recuperating at the 7 Division Hospital Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri when the senate committee on Army visited the medical facility said they are more than ever committed to go back to the warfront to join their colleagues in the final push to end insurgency in the Northeast and the country at large.
The Senate Committee on Army was led by it’s chairman, Senator Mohammed Ndume said they were on a fact finding visit to the hospital on Sunday following a media report in some national dailies alleging that the Nigerian Army has abandoned troops wounded in the frontline .
While speaking on the alleged abandonment of wounded soldiers, a soldiers at the 7 Division Medical facility,Saidu Dahiru said “we are receiving the best of medical attention, we have been giving free drugs, feeding and some of us that need further attention were refered to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and 44 military Hospital Kaduna, even yesterday 40 of our colleagues were flown out in an Air force aircraft to Kaduna for further medical attention”.
” In the coming one week InshaAllsh I will be discharged, I am not discourage with what happened to me, I am eager to go back to the battle Field and join my colleagues there untill we bring to an end the Boko Haram madness in our dear country, so that we will live in peace”, he stressed.
Another wounded soldier, Corporal Kolawole Omaseye, said ” I am not in any way demoralized by the injury I sustained during an encounters with Boko Haram insurgents who attacked our location on 23rd December, 2020 which was successfully repelled. I am more than ever ready to go back and meet my colleagues in the battle Field. We will not be detered by the setback, we will continue to perform our duties of protecting the territorial integrity and the citizens.”.
Briefing the Senate Committee, the Acting Commander 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services Colonel Ogbe Omoruyi said that the common injuries being treated in the facility include blast injuries and gunshot wounds, while severe cases are transferred to 44 Medical Centre Kaduna.
According to him the hospital is also partnering with other tertiary hospitals such as UMTH to ensure full recovery of wounded personnel.
In his remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on Army Senator Mohammed Ndume lauded the resilience and sacrifice of the soldiers and urged them not to be discouraged in the fight against insurgency as the Nigeria Senate will continue to accord priority to their welfare.
Senator Ali Ndume while commending the Nigerian Army for improving the services of the hospital and expanding its capacity to a hundred bed facility, said ” I am here to see you, sympathize with you and told you that the Senate is with you and entire Nigerian are with you, we thank you for your sacrifice, we are proud of you, we are with you. We will continue to pray for you. We wish quick recovery”.
He said ” each time I visit the hospital, I see improvement and expansion. I am glad to know that the hospital is now 100 bedded capacity. The last time I was here there was no physiotherapy department and gymnastics facility and even the newly established Ear, Nose and Throat units.
Also speaking, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Abdul Ibrahim said the sounded soldiers have been given the needed attention And wondered why some section of the media are trying are campaigning against the military.
While assuring Nigerians of the Nigerian Army determination to end insurgency, General Ibrahim said ” the Nigeria Army is determined to end Boko Haram insurgency in the year 2021. The Nigerian Army is for Nigeria and Nigerians We don’t have any other country than Nigeria all our hands must be on deck to end Boko Haram insurgency and other criminality in our land, “