A civilian-military group, Support Our
Troops Foundation, says the key to fighting insecurity lies in the
ability of members of the public and the government to boost the morale
of the soldiers who are at the battle front.
She said it was important for all
Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to come together and
support the military as this would boost their courage and ensure that
terrorism comes to a quick end.
Ogbue said this just as friends of a
Nigerian Air Force officer, Wing Commander Chimda Hedima, narrated how
he killed 63 terrorists in an air strike shortly before he was beheaded
by Boko Haram.
Ogbue said the aim of the group was to
provide for the families of slain and injured soldiers and inform
Nigerians of the many victories recorded by the military but usually
went unreported.
She said Nigerians should note that the
government could not do it alone as even in the richest nations like the
US, private organisations and members of the public usually donated to
the military.
She said, “The group is the first
military charity in Nigeria while in a country like the United States,
there are about 78 of such charities. We need to support our armed
forces. We are dedicated to galvanising support for the armed forces
especially in the fight to end terrorism.
“We want to provide succour to them, look
after their wives and cheer them on as they take their final steps into
battle. We want to provide support to the medical facilities that look
after them and then support for their wives and children. We seek to
give scholarships to the children of fallen soldiers and give grants to
their wives.
“What we realised is that soldiers’ wives
hardly have businesses because they transfer their husbands all over
the place and they usually go with their husbands. So, it is important
that we take care of them.”
