Ag COAS, Oluyode urges troops to deal decisively with insurgents

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, while on an operational tour to Sokoto State has urged officers of the Nigerian Army to deal decisively with enemies of humanity and the country.

Lieutenant General Olufemi, who addressed officers of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army Sokoto while on operational tour to Forward Operations Base Tangaza and 248 Battalion in Illela, hailed officers for their sacrifices and commitment to the fight against insurgents in the North West region of Nigeria.

The Army Chief assured them of his full support and encouragement to decisively deplete the activities of terrorists and insurgents in their respective areas of responsibility and the North West zone in general.

He further appealed to the troops to shun any form of complacency that could jeopardize ongoing operations to overcome the security challenges bedeviling the region.

The Acting COAS, while interacting with the Chairman Tangaza Local Government Area, Honorable Bashir Salihu, traditional heads and heads of security agencies at Illela canvased for synergy and collaboration with the troops.

Lt Gen Oluyode further urged the locals to always support the troops with credible information, saying their support is critical to troops’ effectiveness towards protecting them and securing the nation as a whole.

“Nigerian Army is the people’s Army and Nigeria belongs to all of us. Without support of the locals, Nigerian Army cannot succeed. We must collectively do all it takes to defend our country,” Gen Oluyede stressed.

A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu quoted the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose in his brief to the COAS as saying the operational tour is geared towards obtaining first-hand information and assessment of the security situation and challenges of the troops.