Troops of 7 Division Maiduguri, who participated in the just concluded “Operation Lake Sanity” of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), have been honoured with medals for their gallantry.

Speaking at the ceremony in Maiduguri on Thursday, the Force Commander of MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Khalifa, lauded the gallantry of the officers and soldiers of the division during the operation in the Lake Chad region that facilitated the return of relative peace.

“Gallant Troops of 7 Division did very well. Normalcy is returning with resumption of farming activities and other businesses,” Khalifa said.

He noted that the improvement in security in the region had led of resettlement of many communities in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

While noting that restoration of peace is a process that will be met gradually, Khalifa lauded the sustained support from the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs to the troops.

The commander, who was at the Nigerian Air Force Base where he decorated Air Force officers that participated in the exercise, commended them for their effective role in the exercise.

“They gave us close air support, they assisted with logistics and casualty evacuation, among others,” Khalifa said.

Khalifa, who was accompanied by senior military officers from neighbouring countries for the ceremony, said the measure showed the level of unity and collaboration in the fight against insurgency.

Among those decorated is the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu.