By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army is set to showcase its capabilities in operations, research and development as it celebrates 160 years of existence at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2023 in Ibadan.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, made this known while briefing newsmen as part of the activities marking the NADCEL-2023 on Tuesday in Abuja.

Lagbaja, who was represented by the Chief of Special Services and Programmes (Army), Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru, said the Nigerian army had evolved in all ramification in the last 160 years of its existence.

He said the Nigerian army, as an enviable national institution saddled with the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity, had rich history of the service dates back to 1863.

The COAS said the force had undergone several transformations through different phases of growth and development until it witnessed an astronomical increase in strength from 10,500 to 250,000 all ranks during the unfortunate Nigerian Civil War.

According to him, the war ended with the slogan “No victor, no vanquished,” reuniting the country in 1970.

“Thereafter, the Nigerian army downsized into a compact army with a four division structure of 1 Division, 2 Division, 3 Division, and 82 Division.

“It has, however, again, in response to the contemporary security environment in the country reorganised into an eight divisional structure complemented by other commands,” he said.

Lagbaje said the 2023 NADCEL slated to hold in Ibadan on July 6, was to commemorate the day the Nigerian Civil War broke out.

According to him, it also marks the day the very first shot of the war was fired at Garkem in the present- day Cross River State.

He said the date was set aside to remind them about the past and the need to address problems peacefully rather than resorting to arms.

According to Lagbaja, the week-long NADCEL is an important event due to its significance to National security peace, and unity.

“It offers the Nigerian Army an opportunity to take stock, assess its performances, interface with the public, and set goals for continued professional growth.

“This will enable it to better perform its constitutional roles and also compete favourably with other armies around the globe

“The theme of the NADCEL 2023 is “Sound Administration as a Panacea for Effective Military Operations”.

“This year’s celebration is to celebrate Nigerian army’s achievements.

“It will also showcase the army’s operational activities as well as its transformational strides in innovation, research and development, civil-military relations, and technological advancement.

“The celebration is also aimed at projecting the Army as an instrument of national unity and development as well as highlighting its capabilities,” he said.

The COAS said there would be series of events, such as Juma’at prayer, Interdenominational Church service and medical outreach across army formations nationwide, to mark the year. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Kalthum Foundation for Peace (KFP), a charity organisation, says the former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, did his best to restore peace and security to the country as army chief.

The Chairperson and Founder of KFP, Ummu Kalthum-Rabiu, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Kalthum-Rabiu, said the foundation had collaborated with the military in the North-East in counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations through non kinetic approaches.

She said the recent outbursts by one Garus Gololo against Buratai, was uncalled for considering the former army chief’s patriotic efforts in taming insecurity in Nigeria.

According to her, the foundation wants to set the record straight and make it abundantly clear that troops allowance and welfare under Buratai was at its peak and everything was done through the banks to block corruption.

“Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari, did his best to procure arms and all gears needed for the troops to checkmate the insurgents thus the victory Nigeria recorded under Buratai as COAS.

“This was acknowledged by the World Terrorism Index and other reputable international bodies.

“Gen. Buratai did not only ensure that troops’ allowance was paid as at and when due but also introduced cigarette allowance of N6,000 monthly to them to boost their morale.

“This is why the last time he was passing through Buniyadi, the troops forced him to stop to show their appreciation and solidarity to him.

“The video went viral wherein the troops referred to him ‘Baba oyo lyo’,” she said.

She urged the public to disregard “jobless and destructive minds and their vindictive utterances” because such people have no any moral compass.

“Certainly, Mr Gololo can not go to the North-East and say what he said here in Abuja to the press.

“This is in no way an attempt to lobby for any appointment in the cabinet of President Tinubu for Buratai but to set the record straight and clear the name of a patriotic officer who gave in his best to stabilize the North-East.

“It is up to the president to do whatever he thinks is best and right for the country. It is his prerogative to work with whom he wishes,” she added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Centre for Accountability and Good Governance, a civil society group, has cautioned politicians against blackmailing fellow citizens to get political appointments.

The group made the call in a statement issued by its Secretary General, Mr Olamide Badmus, on Monday in Abuja.

Badmus said the recent online media report of an alleged corruption against a former Permanent Secretary, Dr Mohammed Dikwa, was malicious and cheap blackmail.

He said the former permanent secretary was one of Nigeria’s most outstanding public servants.

According to him, all the allegations raised in the said publication against Dikwa by the online medium accusing him of conniving with a female staff of NDIC to hide and launder money in an apartment in Abuja is totally false and malicious.

Badmus said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we want to make it categorically clear that we have been interacting with Dr Dikwa for years, and we can vouch for him.

“He is a man of impeccable character and his clean and excellent track record in the Borno and the Federal Civil Service has been consistent.

“There was never a time that the name of Dr Dikwa, who retired as a permanent secretary, was mentioned in any case of corruption or official recklessness.”

“We hereby use this medium to caution those behind the malicious story to retract it with immediate effect.

“One doesn’t need to blackmail and tarnish the image of an individual simply because the individual poses a threat to his or her ambition.

“It is wrong to try people on pages of newspaper for offences they never commit simply because we do not like or hate them. This trend has to stop,” he cautioned.

Badmus said the fact that the author of the story waited till 2023 before talking about event that they alleged to have happened in 2020 showed the real intention of the writer.

“We call on Nigerians to disregard the story and see it as the handiwork of desperate politicians lobbying for appointment and using Machiavellian tactics to eliminate those who pose a threat to their ambitions,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Monday Ijeh

The Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, has scheduled a meeting with the 79 Police Mobile Force Squadrons Commanders to brainstorm on his new operational strategies.

This is contained in a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the meeting will hold on Monday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja

Adejobi said the meeting is to update the commanders on new operational strategies for improved training, deployments and enhanced tactical engagements for better public safety and general security in the country.

He said the I-G had pledged to improve the general security of lives and property in all ramifications in the country.

“The I-G has reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under his watch, to attain its primacy in the internal security architecture of Nigeria.

“In furtherance of his vision and painstaking drives to achieve his goals, the I-G will be meeting with Commanders of the Police Mobile Force Squadrons Commanders on Monday,”he said.

Adejobi said the I-G had also said that present leadership of the force had outlined an array of policing approaches that would be of immense importance to public safety. (NAN)

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff ( COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has approved the posting and redeployment of top senior officers to commands, instructional and staff appointments across formations and units.

This is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Saturday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the redeployments and appointments were to reposition the Nigerian army for operational efficiency and functional administration.

Those affected include Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of Army Headquarters (AHQs), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, amongst others.

He said that Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Ibrahim had been redeployed from Headquarters 3 Division to the Department of Policy and Plans (DAPP) and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army).

Nwachukwu said that Maj.-Gen. BR Sinjen had been appointed Chief of Operations (Army) while Maj.-Gen. OR Aiyenigba, erstwhile Provost Marshal had been appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army).

“Others are Maj.-Gen. NC Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs.

Maj.-Gen. E Akerejola moves from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).

“Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi from Army War College Nigeria ( AWCN) to Headquarters 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. AE Abubakar moves from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).

“Also, Maj.-Gen. PP Mala, moves from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 7 Division as GOC and Commander Sector 1 Joint Task Force North East( NE) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).

“Others are Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena (MNJTF) to Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE Operation (OPHK) as Theatre Commander, while Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali was redeployed from OPHK to MNJTF as the Force Commander,” he said.

Nwachukwu said that the appointment of Maj.-Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye, as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.

He said that Maj.-Gen. OO Oluyede had been appointed Commander Infantry Corps; Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, Commander Corps of Artillery, and Maj.-Gen. AA Adeyinka, Commander of Corps of Supply and Transport.

According to him, Maj.-Gen. Kelvin Aligbe had been appointed Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, while Maj.-Gen. JO Ochai, takes over as Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy( NDA), and Maj.-Gen. IB Maina, Commandant, Army War College Nigeria.

“Equally redeployed are Brig.-Gen. TB Ugiagbe who is appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Brig.-Gen. OG Onubogu moves to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre as Commandant, while Brig.-Gen. N Ashinze moves to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.

“The Nigerian Army has also formalised the redeployment of Col. AO Onasanya from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters Guards Brigade as Acting Commander.

“The Chief of Army Staff has directed all newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security, as they assume their new appointments,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army on Saturday, pulled out of service, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, following the change of leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu had on June 19, approved the appointment of new service chiefs, marking the retirement of the erstwhile chiefs from the service of the armed forces.

Pulling Out Parade is a traditional military ceremony to mark officers’ retirement from service which involves review of parade by the retiring senior officer, March past by troops and pull out if the retired officer by top Generals.

In his valedictory speech, Yahaya thanked God for a successful career that saw him through the ranks and reaching the peak as the chief of army staff.

He said that whatever had a beginning must have an end, saying that Saturday, June 24 marked the end of his career that started on Sept. 27, 1985 when he reported to the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy.

Yahaya said his time in the army in command positions enjoyed a measure of support from subordinates, quoting Abraham Lincoln who once said, “no man is good enough to govern another man without the other man’s consent or support”.

“The Nigerian army has indeed grown and I want to use this opportunity to appreciate my predecessors for their dedication service to the army.

“Their efforts significantly addressed some security challenges in the country during their tenure and provided good platform on which others can build upon.

“It was on those efforts and platforms that I tried to build which enabled me to contribute my own quota to the upliftment of the Nigerian army,” he said.

He said that his intention was to superintend over a Nigerian Army that would have flexibility capacity and courage to undertake operations in collaboration with other sister services.

Yahaya said that it was on the basis on that that conceptualised his vision which was to have a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned mission in a joint environment in the defence of Nigeria.

“I am glad to say that we have made significant efforts in achieving the vision. Our operational activities greatly denied the terrorists and bandits freedom of action.

“In the North East for example, our kinetic and non-kinetic operations, other measures and supports have been successful and it has resulted among other things in the mass surrender of terrorists and have restored confidence in our people.

“Economic and social activities have been restored in most areas and many displaced persons have since been returned to their ancestral homes,” he said.

Yahaya said the army troops had also eliminated several bandits and criminal hideouts as well as neutralised scores with significant return of peace to several troubled areas.

He added that the anti-oil bunkering operations in the South-South and other operational activities in other parts of the country had also achieved tremendous successes.

The former COAS commended troops for the achievements and urged them not to relent but redouble their efforts to ensure that the country is secured.

“I urge you not to be distracted or discouraged by cynical comments by unpatriotic and disgruntled elements but be resolute and discharge your duty decisively with every sense of prove and patriotism.

“Our success so far was as a result of doggedness and patriotism of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to duty,” he said.

Yahaya urged his successor to continue to build on the successes and standards that the army had attained, to be able to take the service to the greater height for the good of the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola