The President gave this to the Joint Task Force at Maimalari Cantonment parade ground in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital during his official visit.

He said Nigeria “owes a debt of gratitude” to military men and women, and security agencies currently tackling insecurity in the country, especially those who paid the supreme price.

He also assured family members of deceased personnel that his regime will continue to support their loved ones.

Buhari said: “I am delighted to be with you this afternoon, to address you on this special occasion of my official visit to Borno State.

“I want to seize this opportunity to put it on record that our nation will forever be indebted to you, for your patriotic commitment to the defence of our fatherland against insurgency and criminality.

“I, therefore, commend you and remember all the personnel who have paid the supreme sacrifice in ensuring that Nigeria remains an indivisible and secure entity.”

“We should not allow our adversaries or criminal elements to undermine our sovereignty.”

“While I commend you, let me tell you that there is still a lot of work to be done in the North East, West and entire country.”

Walid al-Moallem made the demand in an address at the U.N General Assembly Saturday.

There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in Syria to battle Islamic State militants. Turkey has forces in Syria targeting ISIS and Kurdish fighters.

“The United States and Turkey maintain an illegal military presence in northern Syria.” al-Moallem told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday. “Any foreign forces operating in our territories without our authorization are occupying forces and should withdraw immediately.”

“If they refuse, we have the right to take any and all countermeasures authorized under international law,” he said.

Over more than eight years, Syria’s devastating civil war has drawn numerous foreign militaries and thousands of foreign fighters battling for power.

Most of the country has returned to government control. But rebels and extremists still hold Idlib in the northwest, and the oil-rich northeast, held by U.S.-backed Kurdish groups.

President Trump last year ordered the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria – but then agreed to let some forces remain to ensure ISIS militants cannot regroup, Reuters reported.

The Department of Defense said in a statement that 20-year-old Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer of Stryker, Ohio, and 24-year-old Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance of Chicago died “as a result of wounds sustained in a combat related incident” on Monday in Tarin Kowt, located in the southern part of Afghanistan.

“These young men were true All Americans and embodied the qualities of selfless service and courage as they answered our nation’s call to deploy to Afghanistan,” Col. Arthur Sellers, Commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said in a statement. “Our focus is now providing their loved ones with every available resource to help them in this most difficult time.”

Both soldiers were assigned to the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Nance got into the Army in early 2017, and completed Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. before being assigned to 1-505th PIR as an automatic rifleman, according to the Pentagon. He is survived by his father in Chicago and mother in Glenwood, Illinois.

The 24-year-old’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.