Daily Trust (Abuja)

Nigeria: Troops From Mali Land in Maiduguri

By Misbahu Bashir, 1 August 2013
Photo: Premium Times
Nigerian troops in Mali

A total of 100 Nigerian soldiers airlifted from Mali yesterday have arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State to reinforce the fight against insurgents.

A battalion of Nigerian troops earlier deployed to Mali under the defunct African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) for peace support operations are to be withdrawn and moved to the North-East region.

The defence headquarters Abuja said Tuesday that the troops to be withdrawn are mainly those not accommodated in the structures of the newly formed United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali, (MINUSMA).

"They are to join the ongoing internal security operations in the country. Some of the soldiers will be redeployed immediately," the defence headquarters stated.

Defence spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said about 100 soldiers airlifted by the C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force have landed in Maiduguri and will be redeployed to different parts of the country for internal security operations.

He said the remaining troops in Mali will be transported back step by step.

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