BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
No fewer than 56,000 bandits have so far surrendered to the Nigerian Army in the North Eastern states of Nigeria since Operation Hadarin Daji began, an indication that the military is winning the war against insurgency in the country, Major General Uwem Bassey has disclosed.
Maj General Bassey, who is the General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto and also the Commander, Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West zone of the country, made the disclosure Sunday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day interdenominational Church service held at St Bartholomew, Goginya Barracks, Sokoto.
8 Division covers the states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina.
The GOC, who assured that the issue of banditry and other crimes in these North East states will soon become a thing of the past, stressed that if the Nigerian Army could do it in the North East, then, he is sure they are going to achieve the same feat in the North West.
Maj General Bassey, while admitting that Nigeria is a great country and still standing strong, affirmed that the Army still remained the lifeline of the country carrying out wonderous responsibilities aimed at checkmating enemies of the country that are bent on causing disunity.
The GOC hailed the unity in the armed forces, noting that it is a reason to thank God. “The Army does not consider your religion to post you. Imagine it pleases the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to post me to be in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina States.
As the GOC, myself alongside the Garrison Commander, Brig General Ralph Nnebeife, often go into the forests with our men at times for weeks to fight these bandits because in the Army, we must follow the mission, dream and vision of our bosses.
“No Army can bear hardship without discipline. It is the discipline that makes you to know how important it is to promote the national unity without expecting gratification.
“Your reward will come as every good reward always comes from God. One day, God will turn things around for you, do not think that the days are too far, as a thousand years is like a day to God,” he said.
“The biggest achievement the Nigerian Army will continue to enjoy is that of a united country.
“Any country that does not have a unified Army is gone. I am proud to say that there is no division in the Nigerian Army.”
On the challenges being experienced in parts of these states in terms of insecurity, Major General Bassey said, is that “most of the communities being affected by banditry now are in remote places that are not so easy to access, just like a good number of the kidnapping activities are being arranged by relatives of the victims because of pecuniary reward.
“The Nigeria Army under the leadership of the COAS is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that these enemies of the country that we are seeing today, we shall see them no more. These difficulties will not last forever”, Maj Gen Usem Bassey enthused.
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Speaking in his homily, the 8 Div Chaplain Lieutenant Elimi Clement appealed to soldiers to remain united to help defend the country.
“We must be united to defend this country, hence the bullet in the warfront doesn’t know your religion or region.
“Our deployment is not based on religion, region or creed but as people that have undergone same training and meant to serve the country.
“There is no better time that Nigeria needs us than now. The Army is the last hope of Nigeria as division has eaten deep into the minds of many. We therefore owe it a duty to defend the country and we can only do that by staying united to face these enemies and win. We must form a formidable force to be able to fight and defeat these enemies of the country,” he stressed.
Preaching on the topic, “Promoting National Unity Through Religious Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence,” and the sub theme, “Unity in Diversity,” Chaplain Clement
admonished Nigerians to rise up with righteousness.
He condemned the bloodbath in the country, sale of arms and ammunition to bandits, preferential treatment in terms of postings, and sabotage generally, stressing that these are bad for the country.
The clergyman further appealed to Nigerians to love one another as enshrined in the various religions, adding that when there is genuine love, most of the crimes against humanity today by bandits and insurgents will be become things of the past.
