“Equipment, no matter how sophisticated they are, do not fight any war, personnel fight the war, using the equipment.” Those were the words of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa at the climax of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2023 which took place around the federation with Ibadan the capital of Oyo state in Southwest Nigeria, hosting the grand finale.
The event paraded the bigwigs in the Nigerian military, both serving and retired, joined by spectators to witness the parade and display of the military’s hardware and artefacts, a testament to the military’s growth over 160 years.
Addressing the event, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa assured the officers and men of the military that welfare, training, timely and professional deployments as well as adequately equipping the men with the best and world remained at the core of the ethos of the government enjoining commanders not to compromise the core principles and practices of the military.
Lending credence to the commitment of the military to reward outstanding commitments, General Musa announced awards for 7 officers and 5 men bestowed with the Chief of Army Staff Honours and Awards having distinguished themselves in the last year.
The Awardees:
Brigadier General Everest Ifeanyi Okoro of the Infantry Corps and currently the Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Calabar conducted several operations to curb the incursion of the Ambazonian rebels from the Republic of Cameroon, which had threatened the territorial integrity of Nigeria. He prevented the incursion of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist group into his Area of Responsibility. 
His dynamic and bold actions led to the discovery and destruction of the IPOB training Camp in Cross River State; He also conducted operations that led to the interception of large cache of explosive materials and ammunition in Amana in Northern Cross Rivers during the conduct of the 2023 General Elections, and forestalled the breakdown of law and order in that area; conducted operations that led to the arrest of many political thugs and recovery of dangerous weapons and ammunition that were to be used to disrupt the conduct of the Year 2023 General elections in his Area of Responsibility.
(2) Brigadier General SAMAILA MOHAMMED UBA Commander 401 Special Forces Brigade displayed exemplary courage and leadership character inspiring his team; personally, led all clearance operations and reinforcements, particularly along the Main Supply Routes BAGA – CROSS KAUWA – MONGUNO in Borno state, which were hitherto prone to terrorists’ ambushes and attacks. 
Brigadier General Uba coordinated Sector 3 clearance operations to Gudumbali, Dabam Masara and Alagarrno among others; where he successfully cleared all areas of terrorist elements viz; the destruction of Headquarters of the Boko Haram Caliphate in Gudumbali in January 2022 which was barely 2 days after it was declared a Caliphate by the terrorist. This greatly deflated the Boko Haram propaganda machinery and portrayed it as an ineffectual and struggling band of criminals.
(3) Brigadier General BO Omopariola physically led all operations conducted within his Area of Responsibility and recorded resounding successes. Notably, on 1 December 2022, he led a daring reinforcement to Wajiroko in Borno state when terrorists attacked the Forward Operating Base. In that encounter, despite the ambush laid for him and his men, that was preceded by an Improvised Explosive Device, he defeated the ambush, captured 2-gun trucks, cache of arms and ammunition and neutralized several members of the terrorist elements. Also, on 13 January 2023, he successfully defeated a terrorist attack on Azir Bridge and captured 1 x adversary Phantom Mine Resistance Ambush Protected vehicle, 1 x gun truck as well as a cache of arms and ammunition. Similarly, on 23 January 2023, he led a reinforcement along Main Supply Route DAMBOA – KOMALA –MAIDUGURI and defeated yet another terrorist ambush on troops, capturing another Mine Resistance Ambush Protected vehicle, 3 motorcycles, one QJC anti-aircraft gun and 1 x AK 47 rifle among others.
(4) Lieutenant Colonel IB Umar assumed command as the acting Commandant Forward Operating Base Magumeri on 28 January 2021. During the period under review, he conducted several onslaughts against terrorist elements in his Area of responsibility with impressive results. Notably, he led an operation in Magumeri resulting in the neutralization of 9 Boko Haram terrorists, the capture of 10 x AK 47 rifles, one Beretta assault rifle, one QJC Anti-Aircraft gun and 7 Dane guns. Others are one Buffalo Gun Truck, one pickup van, 8 motorcycles, 147 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 13 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 2 bandoliers and 2 x 36 hand grenades among others.
(5) Lieutenant Colonel II Indiorhwer as the Commanding Officer of 202 Battalion on 17 March 2022, is result-oriented, intelligent, dexterous, dogged and courageous thus serving as a source of inspiration and a rallying point to his men during all operational and administrative matters. He conducted several operational exploits to clear several terrorists’ enclaves and strongholds within his area of responsibility including Sambisa Forest amongst others. These operations led to the destruction of terrorist enclaves, the neutralization of several terrorists and the capture of some high-profile terrorist commanders. Others are the recovery of weapons and equipment alongside the rescue of many hostages held captive in these terrorist dens.
(6) Lieutenant Colonel NP Ochasi was the Commanding Officer 151 Task Force Battalion on 27 December 2022 and successfully led operations. His dedication to work as the Commanding led to many successes in the fight against terrorism within his Battalion’s Area of Responsibility. The daily Improvised Explosive Device incidents earlier associated with his Area of Responsibility has reduced to the barest minimum. He advanced with his Brigade Commander on all the operational exploits to clear several terrorists’ enclaves and strongholds within the Brigade Area of Responsibility. His unit was equally part of the Brigade’s operation in Sambisa Forest from 12-13 May 2023 which led to the discovery of the terrorist’s underground armoury and recovery of several arms, ammunition and equipment.
(7) Major CU OKEREKE The climax of the small arms proficiency test in the Nigerian Army is the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship which is a biennial competition among Nigerian Army formations. Major CU Okereke of the 43 Engineer Brigade exhibited an outstanding performance during the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship 2022. The Senior Officer won the following laurels; Overall Best Shot Nigerian Army, Best Shot for Male Officers Category and Best Shot in AK 47 Rifle. It is therefore worthy to acknowledge his blend of professional skills in marksmanship, diligence and hard work. It is in recognition of this that Major CU Okereke is awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
THE SOLDIERS CATEGORY. 
Staff Sergeant AYUBA YUSUF: Since his enlistment in 1998 the senior non-commissioned officer has over the years exhibited extraordinary integrity and good leadership in the discharge of his assigned task. He led a stop and search operation at BALOGUN IGBOGILA EXPRESS WAY which led to the arrest of 3 x 5-ton trucks loaded with 295,972 rounds of 12 gauge live cartridge ammunition on 30 May 2018. Also, on 25 August 2022 while on duty at Ilaro checkpoint in Ogun state, he arrested 2 suspected illicit drug smugglers with 792 parcels of marijuana. It is worth noting that the smugglers offered him the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) only to allow safe passage of the illicit substance which he rejected. This was a show of complete demonstration of integrity and professionalism. Equally, on 18 March 2023, Sgt Ayuba Yusuf arrested armed robbers with 2 x locally made pistols at IBOGUN – ILLARO Axis while on Operation SAFE CONDUCT duties.
Sargent Clement Morondo was enlisted into the Nigerian in 1993 and later deployed on guard duty at the Office of the National Security Adviser during which displayed a high degree of alertness while on sentry at about 0300 hours when he sighted some unknown persons digging and loading 5G Armoured Cables into a vehicle. His action led to the arrest of the hoodlums and the recovery of the cables.
Sargent Gibson Ezukanma is a member of 44 Regular Recruit Intake. He is presently serving at the 81 Division Garrison and deployed to the Intelligence section. He is a hardworking and disciplined soldier who has prevented the activities of criminals in the 81 Division Area of Responsibility. Notably, In the early hours of 23 March 2023, the senior non-commissioned officer encountered a robbery incident at Eko Bridge, Lagos state on his way to the office. In that episode, some commuters were disposed of their belongings by Lagos petty robbers. On arrival at the scene, he ascertained the escape route used by the robbers and went after them with his motorcycle. He thereafter sighted the robbers under the Ijora/Iganmu bridge while trying to share their loot and accosted them. They abandoned the stolen items and ran away. Thus, the items were recovered intact. Sgt Gibson subsequently returned to the robbery scene with the recovered items and handed them over to the victims.
4) Lance Corporal Julius Ogunmakinwa; employed in 2021 and deployed as the driver to a mine resistance ambush-protected vehicle. On 6 June 2022, while on duty with his assigned vehicle, Ogunmakinwa exhibited his brave driving skills in hot pursuit of terrorists who attacked commuters at GONI – MASARA village along the main supply route Damaturu – Maiduguri the Borno state capital in northeast Nigeria. Due to his ingenuity, contact was made which led to the capture of 3 x Gun Trucks, 3 x Anti Aircraft Guns, 3 x AK 47 Rifles, 1 x PKT Machine Gun, 3 x Extra Barrels of Anti-Aircraft Guns, 2 x AK 47 Magazines, 438 rounds of 7.62 mm special rounds, 291 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, and various types of controlled substances.
Lance Corporal SULEIMAN MUSA. On 22 December 2022, two suspected gun-runners were arrested by troops of 63 Bde in conjunction with personnel of the Department of State Services Delta State Command. The arrest was premised on a tip-off by Lcpl Suleiman Musa when he was approached on 20 December 2022 by one of the suspects to procure AK–47 rifles from him. Lcpl Suleiman exhibited a high sense of integrity by rejecting One Million and Thirty Thousand Naira (N1,030,000.00) only given to him for exchange with 2 x AK – 47 rifles.
In line with the welfare scheme of the Nigerian Army, some warrant officers were selected and presented with Toyota Hilux who have served for 32 years without blame. 
They are Army Warrant Officers: Ajayi Adebayo, Dauda Waheed, Arogundade Tajudeen, Nnadi Victor, Mohammed Haruna, and Mathew Ogbu.
Inter-agency cooperation
Addressing troops on the occasion, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, emphasized inter-agency cooperation and pointed out that the Nigerian Army had come a long way and lived up to assigned roles given to it especially contributing to global and internal security. “It is through our concerted efforts that the activities of insurgents, terrorists, bandits and other forms of criminalities that threaten the very corporate existence of Nigeria have been greatly reduced”
The Special Guest of Honour, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was represented by the Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, presented the keys of the vehicles to the beneficiary Army Warrant Officers. While sympathizing with families of fallen soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty, he warned the members of the armed forces to obey all rules of engage in areas of human rights even as he promised better welfare for the military: “As for the members of the Nigerian Army and indeed all members of other armed forces, I assure you of unfettered commitment to your welfare. I am aware of the issue of inadequate equipment and funding”, he said.
