174 soldiers return home as army rotates troops in north-east operations

No fewer than 329 military personnel serving under Operation Hadin Kai have been transported in and out of the north-east theatre as part of the chief of army staff’s welfare flight initiative.

According Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the latest exercise was conducted on June 16 using a ValueJet aircraft.

Of the personnel moved, 155 were deployed into the theatre to take up operational duties, while 174 others were flown out after completing their assignments.

Sources said the exercise was completed without any operational or logistical setbacks.

The welfare flight programme was introduced to ease troop rotation and support the wellbeing of soldiers serving in challenging operational environments.

Since the initiative began, a total of 33,426 personnel have reportedly been transported to and from the Operation Hadin Kai theatre.

Military authorities say the programme is a key component of troop welfare, providing personnel with opportunities to reunite with their families, rest after deployment, and return to duty refreshed.

Operation Hadin Kai remains the military’s flagship counter-insurgency operation in the north-east, where troops continue to battle Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters. (TheCable)