5,000 soldiers get promotion for fighting Boko Haram

Nigerian soldiers

No fewer than 5000 soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeastern part of the country have been approved for promotion.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, made the announcement yesterday in Abuja, at the opening of the 2015 Chief of Army Staff Third Quarter conference at Army Headquarters.

He said that the army had approved the promotion as part of the measures to boost troops’ morale and reposition its operations.

According to him, it is the military’s vision to reward gallant troops so as to boost their combat readiness and willingness to serve fatherland.

“The approval of the accelerated promotion of 5,000 soldiers was to redeem the promise made by my predecessor to the troops fighting insurgents in the North-East. “It is my belief that this promotion, coupled with other incentives, will encourage our troops to fight for our country.”

Speaking on fitness, the Chief of Army Staff called the soldiers to order as he charged the officers and all personnel of the Nigeria Army to constantly maintain the required level of physical fitness. He gave all Army officers and soldiers a December 15 deadline to shape up or face the medical board for appropriate disciplinary actions.

He said that his vision of entrenching professionalism and bequeathing a combat-ready Army to the nation was on course as commanders and troops had been fully briefed to key into the vision.