General Officer Commanding of Seven Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, is seeking stronger collaboration with local hunters with better understanding of the terrains in the North East who voluntarily work hand in hand with the Army in some of the remote towns.

This is because the counter insurgency war code named “Operation Lafiya Dole” has suffered setback since the coming of the rains with some of the terrains getting inaccessible for troops.

He said the Division would provide the local hunters with cartridges for their supporting role in the war.

Meanwhile, troops in some of the areas have become weary of their continued stay without adequate rotation.

The pride of winning the war and liberating lost territories is gradually giving way to frustration and apathy.

A soldier in Bitta told the GOC, “Soldiers and officers in the 114 Battalion feel we are being punished for something we have committed.

Six hundred of us were brought here but today due to injuries and deaths the number has dropped and we even had to be reinforced.

Promising to address the issues raised by soldiers, Ezugwu expressed confidence that the Army has an edge over the outlawed bandits, insisting that peace was gradually returning to the land.

The General has been on a three-day operational tour of formations and units within Seven Division Area of Responsibility, include 121 Task Force Battalion Pulka, ‘A’ Company of 143 Rangers Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade in Mubi, Adamawa State and 114 Task Force Battalion in Bitta are some of the areas he visited.