By Anastacia Agunwa
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has commenced an assessment and morale boosting tour of the North East Theatre of operations.
This was disclosed in a statement by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations.
The statement said the COAS lauded troops for their resilience in combating terrorism and other security challenges bedeviling the country, and urged them to remain alert and vigilant to sustain the operational gains so far achieved in the fight against the criminals.
He noted that farmers and herders are now returning to their ancestral lands and occupations, describing it as an indication of progressive restoration of peace.
The Army Chief extolled President Muhammadu Buhari for his tireless support in providing combat enablers to prosecute ongoing operations across the nation.
Gen Yahaya, who pointed out that elections are fast approaching, charged the troops to leverage on past experience and adhere strictly to the newly approved Nigerian Army’s Code of Conduct for personnel while supporting the lead security agency during elections.
According to the statement, the Army Chief who was accompanied by the Chief of Operations (Army) Maj Gen Olufemi Akinjobi and other Principal Staff Officers arrived Maiduguri on Thursday and immediately swung into action, taking briefs on the security situation, as well as other operational and administrative activities.
The COAS, thereafter proceeded to Baga; a town in the northeastern state of Borno, near Lake Chad, where he was received by the Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Maj Gen Abdulkalifa Ibrahim, before addressing troops conducting Operations Lake Sanity in the Lake Chad
The COAS later commissioned some completed projects in Maimalari Cantonment, including a Maternity and Child Care Centre, Doctor’s Lodge and Theatre Command Regimental Sergeant Major’s residence.
