Nigeria Army Deploys 300 Female Soldiers To Secure Abuja-Kaduna Highway
The Nigerian Army has deployed the first set of 100 female soldiers of the 1 Women Special Operation Battalion to secure the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The troops’ first batch was formally received on Wednesday by Governor Nasir El-Rufai at their Kakau base on the highway.
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday announced that it had deployed 300 female soldiers to the notorious Kaduna-Abuja Road to tackle the rising spate of banditry, kidnapping and other crimes along the expressway. The army drafted the female soldiers from the 1 Division, Kaduna State, and said they were attached to the Nigerian Army Women Corps.
Information reaching us ‘On the Highway Africa’ states that the female soldiers will form part of the Operation Thunder Strike,these female soldiers, who are of the Women Corps, are expected to complement Operation Thunder Strike and other existing operations along the highways and the environs.
The special selected female Soldiers are mostly Lefty and are Sharp Shooters,it was gathered that this is the first deployment as another set of 200 soldiers are expected, to make a total of 300.
El-Rufai speaks speaking at Kakau village along the Highway where he received the 1st batch of 100 female soldiers, the first Women Special Operations Battalion on Wednesday, the Kaduna State Governor, commended the deployment by the Nigerian Army, which he said will boost the security situation along Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The highway is being bedevilled by incessant kidnapping and killings. The Governor expressed hope that, with the deployment of the female soldiers, the insecurity along the highways will soon be a thing of the past.
He is optimistic saying “The problem of Abuja-Kaduna road will be over with these female soldiers because what a man can do a woman can do better. “We believe in the capability of women in this State. He added that “I am confident the road will be the safest in Nigeria with this deployment and we will do everything possible to make this operation comfortable.
To the female Soldiers, he said “We are very happy to have you and I believe your presence will inspire other girls to join the military. “That is why we have female deputy governors to inspire other women,” El-Rufai said.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe charged the female soldiers to do their best to make sure everyone in the state and the state is safe.
Governor El-Rufai expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for deploying the troops. He assured them of the Kaduna State Government’s continued support as they worked towards securing the entire State.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major-General Usman Mohammed, acknowledged the support the Kaduna State government had provided to the military in its internal security operations. Mohammed thanked Governor El-Rufai and his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, for coming to receive the female troops