TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan paid a surprise visit to Mubi in Adamawa state on Thursday morning and departed for Maiduguri, in order to connect Baga, a border community in Borno.

He was accompanied by Sambo Dasuki, national security adviser; Alex Badeh, chief of defence staff; Sulaiman Abba, inspector-general of police; and other service chiefs.

Jonathan made a similar surprise visit to Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, in January.

An official of the national orientation agency (NOA) who did not want to be named, confirmed the president’s visit to TheCable, saying that Kenneth Minimah, the chief of army staff, went to Baga on Wednesday, “to prepare the ground for Jonathan’s visit”.

“As we speak now, the president is on currently on his way to Baga,” he said.

“The visit of the chief of army staff to Baga on Wednesday was to prepare the ground for the visit of the president today.”

Mubi and Baga have suffered repeated attacks from Boko Haram insurgents.

During his visit to Baga, Kenneth Minimah, the chief of army staff, expressed confidence that insurgency would soon be over, appealing to Nigerians to support the military.

“God willing, in a matter of time, insurgency will be over,” he said. “I encourage Nigerians to support their military.”

He also announced a special promotion for the soldiers involved in recovering Baga from the grip of insurgents.

However, Reuben Abati, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Jonathan also undertook an aerial inspection of Monguno, a town in Borno and other towns and areas recently recaptured from Boko Haram.

Abati said Jonathan assured the troops in the northeast that the federal government will ensure that they receive all the equipment and logistics they require to take effective control over all areas formerly held by the insurgents.

He said promised the soldiers that they will be duly rewarded for their bravery and patriotic service to the nation.

Before departing for Abuja, Jonathan, who had earlier met with Bala Ngilari, governor of Adamawa state, also met Kashim Shettima, the governor of Borno state.