The Nigerian Army has created special military units made up of highly trained soldiers to deal with various crimes across the country in its bid to further enhance operational efficiency.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja disclosed this as he declared open the Combine Second and Third Quarters Chief of Army Staff Conference for the Year 2023 hooding at the Command Officers Mess, Abuja, the Nation’s Capital.
According to the Army Chief, the Special Forces units have continued to record impressive performances through intelligence-led operations and the use of special equipment.
General Lagbaja who pointed out that the Nigerian Army has remained resolute in its drive to deny all criminal elements any respite, maintained that the people of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States are steadily picking up their livelihood as the military, in collaboration with the government is helping to restore governance to deprived places.
“It is heart-warming to note that our activities in Operation HADIN KAI in the North East have effectively curtailed boko haram and other terrorist activities in the Region. Overall, our efforts have resulted in the large-scale surrender of members of the terrorist groups and the submission of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
“The operational activities of our troops in Operation HADARIN DAJI and Operation WHIRL PUNCH have also greatly checkmated banditry and insurgency in the North West and North Central Regions of the Country.
“Permit me to remind you that the enemies we fight are emboldened by weakness; strength is what keeps them to stand back. Therefore, we must be willing, able, and ready to project an appropriate level of force to confront situations as they develop across the Country,” General Lagbaja stated.
REVIEWING OPERATIONS
The Second and Third Quarter Conference According to General Lagbaja, the COAS Conferences are designed to provide a veritable platform to review the conduct of the Nigerian Army’s administrative, training, logistics and operational activities among other key issues relating to the service within a quarter.
“This conference thus offers participants an opportunity to review decisions taken during the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference 2023, conducted under the past leadership. We must effectively assess the level of implementation of decisions taken during the First Quarter Conference 2023. This is to refine some of our strategies to be in tune with the fast-changing security and strategic environments,” said Army Chief.
WELFARE
The Chief of Army Staff also promised to consolidate all existing welfare arrangements to enhance the well-being of troops and their families to keep them focused on their tasks through the newly introduced ‘Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers Scheme’. This he said is designed to provide affordable and high-quality post-service homes for soldiers.
He equally promised to ensure that injured warriors get the best medical care and continued support for widows and next-of-kins of fallen heroes.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Chief of Policy and Plans Army, Major General Abdulsalam Ibrahim said the conference will provide an environment for officers to deliberate on critical operational issues. He said the military’s kinetic Operation has continued to record tremendous successes across theatres as he called on officers and men of the army not to be discouraged in the face of any challenge.
He said the honest discussions during the conference are expected to yield decisions that would guarantee more successes in operations as well as generate better strategies that will enhance operations.
