Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai, late last night sent a message to all troops in OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE, making it clear that there is no alternative to winning the on-going war against Boko Haram terrorists.

His message, aimed at boosting the morale of troops, came shortly after two a suicide bomber detonated an explosive inside the mosque in the suburb of Mulai, Maiduguri during yesterday’s evening prayers, with a second suicide bomber striking as people tried to escape. An AFP report put the death toll at 42 from Thursday’s explosions.

The attack came barely two days after three bombs exploded in the Borno State capital on Tuesday, killing at least four people. Dozens of people were also killed in three explosions in the city last month.

Gen. Buratai said in his message, contained in a statement issued shortly after midnight: “The next few days will be crucial to Op LAFIYA DOLE. It is also crucial to our country Nigeria. Our sovereignty as a nation is threatened. The Nigerian Army and indeed the military as the symbol of our nationhood is being challenged. Our ability to stand and defeat the Boko Haram terrorists in the next few weeks will determine the future of our country. We cannot afford to lose the fight. We are better trained and better equipped. The whole nation is behind us. Mr President is with us. Let us remain steadfast in this noble cause. Be courageous. We must degrade and defeat the terrorists. This job must be done. We must make our country men and women proud.”

Hours earlier, the Borno State Police Command had confirmed the mosque attack, saying in a statement signed by the Commissioner of Police: “At about 6.35 PM on Thursday, two suspected suicide bombers detonated IEDS in and outside a Mosque at Mulai.

“The mosque consequently collapsed injuring many people praying.

“While the number of deaths is about 14 so far, including the two bombers, casualties have been evacuated to UMTH and Specialist Hospitals in Maiduguri.”

•Photo shows Gen. Buratai.