Lt. Col. Adeboye Obasanjo
The injured son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lt. Col. Adeboye Obasanjo, who was wounded during a battle with the Boko Haram insurgents has has expressed eagerness to return to the battle front.
Lt. Col Obasanjo was shot on Monday in Bazza, a suburb of Michika Local Government Area in Adamawa State, where he was leading a platoon against Boko Haram terrorists.
Adeboye is recuperating at a government medical facility in Yola
Reports indicate that the young officer was visited by former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, who recently mended fences with his former boss.
According to the reports, Atiku was impressed to learn from the injured officer his readiness to return to the warfront to battle the insurgents.
Atiku was quoted to have told Lt.-Col. Obasanjo that he was impressed to see him display the type of courage that his father was known for.
“He was even marching before me, even as he was recovering from gunshot wounds.”
The former vice-present wished him a speedy recovery from the injuries he sustained in the line of duty.
The younger Obasano was also visited at the FMC by the acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, where he commended the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces who had been fighting bravely to defend the country’s territorial integrity.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr. Mike Omeri, also confirmed that Lt. Col Obasanjo was doing well and was eager to return to the battle front.
Omeri told journalists at a news conference in Abuja that Adeboye was in high spirits when he spoke with him on the telephone on Tuesday.
The NOA boss, who coordinates the National Information Centre, said, “I spoke with the son of Gen. Obasanjo’s son that was involved in the incident of Monday. He is in very high spirits and he is assuring Nigerians that what is on his mind now is to get well and go back to defend his fatherland.
“That was what he told me today(Tuesday). And this is the kind of patriotism and the spirit that even those of us who are not on the line of battle should exhibit. We should continuously support members of the armed forces and support them in prayers.”
“He spoke to me and promised to return to continue the fight against terrorism as soon as he recovers,” he stated.
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Omeri also said the areas reportedly captured by insurgents would soon be recovered by the Nigerian troops.
According to Omeri, efforts were ongoing to recapture the Madagali area in Adamawa State, just like Bama and other areas that had been recovered by the military.
“Our officers are doing their best to secure the place,” he said.,
Omeri also cautioned Nigerians against buying used phones and Subscriber Identity Module cards as they could have been used by insurgents.
He said, “The NIC wishes to call on Nigerians to desist from purchasing used GSM phones and pre-registered SIM cards from unknown sources.
“Such phones and SIM cards might have been used for terrorist and other untoward activities. This caution has become necessary to save members of the public the embarrassment of being apprehended for criminal activities committed with phones and SIM cards found in their possession.
“Accordingly, members of the public are strongly advised to report cases of stolen phones and SIM cards to the police, while refraining from purchasing second-hand phones/SIM cards from unknown sources.”
Omeri also spoke on a recent regional ministerial meeting convened to explore ways of achieving international cooperation in tackling insurgency in the North-East.
The meeting which was held in Abuja on September 3 under the chairmanship of Nigeria was attended by representatives of Cameroun, France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, China, Benin, Chad, Niger, the European Union, and the Economic Community of West African States.
Omeri said, “The meeting underscored the need to effectively address the sources of funding and supply of weapons to Boko Haram and called for greater international co-operation in tracking all forms of illegal transfer of arms and ammunition.
