Army launches motorbike battalion

The Nigeria Army on Saturday established a motorbike battalion to add impetus to its war on insurgency in the North-East.

Also on Saturday, the Army released a fresh list of 100 suspected members of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, wanted for various act of terrorism in the country.

The Army also on the same day opened one of the major roads leading to Maiduguri, Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road closed to traffic for over two years as a result of the surge of insurgency in the area.

The Army had late last year published the first set of 100 suspected members of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram wanted by the Nigerian state.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who launched the Motorbike Battalion of the Nigerian Army at the 25 Task Force Brigade, Damboa, Borno State said the decision for the introduction of the combat motorbike is to ensure that “our roads are safe.”

He said the combat motorbike would ensure a force multiplier effect and give the military an edge in the ongoing counter-insurgency war in the North-East.

He said with the introduction of the combat motorbike “our troops will be able to pursue the Boko Haram anywhere.”

On the reopened road, Buratai said: “The safety on this road is in care of the Brigade Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade. I do not want to hear of any attack on this road. Motorists plying this road must be safe.”

The COAS appealed to the public to come out with information that would assist in the arrest of terrorists, adding that many terrorists in the first list of 100 wanted people were identified and arrested.

He said the new list of 100 suspected terrorists was for the members of the public to identify and report their whereabouts so that they could be brought to justice.

He said: “The hundred Boko Haram members declared wanted have their faces on the poster. The members of the public should look at the poster very well and report appropriately.