LAGOS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai Tuesday charged troops to move deep into the bushes to engage and clear remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists from the restive northeast region.
Buratai gave the charge in northeast Bama town, after he decorated two officers and 63 soldiers with medals for their exceptional performances in the clearance operation.
The army chief urged the troops to replicate the feat achieved by the awardee and assured them of their welfare.
On July 10 and Aug. 5, respectively, the troops ambushed and repelled the terrorists, neutralizing over 13 insurgents and recovered weapons from them.
Two solders died in those incidents.
"You must take this fight to their hideouts. You must go further, that should be the next state," Buratai said.
"I won't accept a situation where our troops are being unnecessarily killed or innocent civilians are ambushed on the highways or in some other areas," he added.
According to him, the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists that are roaming in the bushes and forest must be followed through.
Buratai moved to the Theater Command of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, after the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo ordered service chiefs to relocate to restive Borno to take charge of operations, following renewed attacks.
Buratai, who relocated in compliance with the directive, had been visiting troops in the front line to boost their morale.
