Following troops’ encounter with terrorists in Zungeru general area of Niger State, in which troops of the Nigerian Army on patrol paid the supreme price in defence of country, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Nigerian Army, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja arrived Mina, Niger state capital, late Tuesday night to motivate the soldiers.
The COAS was said to have immediately moved to Forward Operating Base Erena in Shiroro LGA of Niger State, where he was briefed on the current security situation by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Bamidele Alabi.
According to army spokesman, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, addressing the troops soon after the brief, the COAS urged them to rally together and be more resolute in bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restore sanity in troubled areas.
He maintained that the fight against insurgents and bandits is a just cause, in defence of Nigerians and the nation. According to the Army Chief, “Protecting lives and defending your nation are the noblest service anyone can offer. You are therefore in the noble profession of arms and must not allow your morale to dwindle. We must defeat the adversaries of our people and take back every inch of space where they are hibernating in our land”, he added.
Gen Lagbaja assured the troops that he will do all within available resources to give Nigerian Army personnel and their families the best in terms of welfare. He disclosed, that this is topmost in the pillars of his Command Philosophy. He directed the immediate reinforcement of the troops with additional combat enablers to enhance their operational effectiveness.