The injured son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lt. Col. Adeboye Obasanjo, who 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, has expressed eagerness to return to the battle front immediately.
His eagerness to return to the frontline coincided with reports from military sources yesterday that Bazza had been recaptured and Nigerian troops were making advances to dislodge the sect from Michika.
This is as Adeboye’s father, a retired army General, who led the Nigerian Army’s 3 Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War, dismissed the advice by his close friends to fly his son overseas for treatment from the gunshot wounds he sustained.
Sources close to the former president said he had established that his son, who had been admitted at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola, was stable and recuperating.
Confirming this, the Public Relations Officer of FMC, Yola, Mallam Adam Dodo, said the General’s son was recuperating from the injuries he sustained.
He added that the young military officer was in good condition and was allowed to receive visitors and dignitaries who flooded the hospital to wish him a quick recovery.
One of such visitors was the former president’s deputy, Atiku Abubakar, who on learning that the younger Obasanjo was at FMC, went to visit him yesterday afternoon.
A source at the hospital told THISDAY that Atiku was glad to find the soldier son of the former president in high spirits.
According to the source, the former vice-president, who recently mended fences with his former boss was impressed to learn from the injured officer his readiness to return to the warfront to battle the insurgents.
The source quoted Atiku 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 source recounted Atiku as stating.
The Turaki Adamawa was said to have wished him a speedy recovery from the injuries he sustained in the line of duty.
Another visitor at the FMC to see Adeboye was the acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri.
Fintiri commended the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces who had been fighting bravely to defend the country’s territorial integrity.
Also, the federal government has given the assurance that military officers who recovered from injuries sustained during gun battles with insurgents will return to the battlefield.
Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr. Mike Omeri, gave this assurance at the centre yesterady in Abuja.
Speaking specifically about Obasanjo’s son, he confirmed that Adeboye was recuperating and would soon return to duty.
“He spoke to me and promised to return to continue the fight against terrorism as soon as he recovers,” he stated.
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.
Nigerian Troops Recapture Bazza
Corroborating Omeri’s statement, a military source informed THISDAY yesterday that Nigerian troops had recaptured Bazza in Adamawa State after a fierce battle with the outlawed Boko Haram group, leading to the death of several of its members.
The senior military source confirmed that the troops were also fighting valiantly to uproot members of the sect from Michika.
“It was after our air force jets bombarded their strongholds mounted on roads that the troops moved in on a clearing mission,” the officer revealed.
He said more troops had been sent to Michika, Gulak and Mubi to combat the insurgents, assuring THISDAY that the military would overwhelm the insurgents in the area.
Content Credit: THISDAY
