The Senate Committee on Army and the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Baba have paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, to appreciate the sacrifices of the Nigerian Army.
This was the first visit by the Senate Committee on Army led by its Chairman, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume since the assumption of office of the Chief of Army Staff.
Senator Ndume and his team also went to formally congratulate COAS on his appointment as the Army Chief and to acquaint the COAS with observations and findings during the oversight visits by the Committee to Nigerian Army formations and Units.
In his response, General Attahiru thanked the Committee for the visit which he said was timely and afforded the leadership of the NA an opportunity to discuss issues that would impact positively on the its activities and operations.
General Attahiru said; ”the visit will strengthen the cordial relationship between the Nigerian Army and the National Assembly, and the NA requires more equipment such as armoured fighting vehicles and various combat enablers to confront insurgency and other security threats across the country.”
The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba also visited the Army Headquarters for the first time since his appointment and reiterated the importance of synergy among security agencies.
He stated that ”they are all working along functional lines to combat security challenges in the country and to ultimately restore normalcy to troubled areas.”
Security collaboration
The acting IGP who was accompanied on the visit by some of his principal staff officers, said his visit was to seek further collaboration and synergy with the NA in tackling insecurity.
According to him, ”the collaboration and synergy will match forces to confront insurgency, banditary and other criminalities confronting the country.”
”The Nigerian security environment is currently dicey and security forces especially the Police Force and the NA are central in bringing the situation under control,” Baba said.
Commendation
He commended the NA under the leadership of Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru for the successes recently recorded in the North-east and other flashpoints around the country.
Baba promised the Police’s commitment towards collaboration with the NA and other security agencies in maintaining law and order.
“I need to come here and pledge my unalloyed support, cooperation, collaboration and synergy with the military, to enable us provide the required environment for citizens of this country to go about their lawful businesses.
“My purpose of coming is to inform you and assure you that the Nigerian Police, under my leadership, will always be ready to work with you in whatever way that will make this country governable, peaceful and enable Nigerians to go about their lawful businesses.
“The security environment is very dicey, as we came in at a period when we have to do something extra, that is different from what our colleagues have been doing, and change the narratives,’’ the Police boss stated.
Responding, the COAS thanked the Acting Inspector General of Police for the visit while congratulating him on his recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari which he said, was a reflection of the confidence reposed on him by Mr President.
General Attahiru said; “I want to assure you that the Nigerian army, under my leadership, will continue to synergise and support the Nigerian police to build appropriate capacities, so as to collectively secure the nation.”
He added that the appointment came at a time when the country was facing myriads of security challenges that needed urgent and sustained intervention.
The COAS also congratulated the officers and men of the NPF for sacrifices and loyalty in the discharge of their constitutional roles.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
