Two former Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsami Abubakar have expressed confidence in the Nigerian Army’s effort to tackle the nation’s insecurity.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, said the former leaders stated this when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya visited them separately on Monday in Minna.
Babangida said he was confident in the Nigerian Army’s ability to stem the current security challenges confronted across the country.
- ‘Walkie-Talkies are now a means of communication among bandits’ – Katsina Govt.
- SEMA donates relief materials to fire disaster victims in Kano
He noted that the Nigerian army had put up tremendous efforts to tackle the security challenges.
On his part, Gen. Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the unrelenting drive of the COAS in confronting the threats at all fronts.
He added that Yahaya assumed command at a time the nation was being confronted with multifaceted security challenges.
Abubakar commended the COAS to engage key stakeholders across the country to seek public support and cooperation to enhance ongoing military operations effectively.
He further lauded the COAS for his pragmatic leadership and visiting military formations and theatres of operations to engage and motivate the troops.
He called on officers in junior leadership of the Nigerian army to emulate the exemplary leadership style and virtues of Yahaya.
Also, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger called on people of the state and Nigerians, in general, to support the military and other security agencies in the ongoing anti-banditry and counter-insurgency operations across the country.
Bello said the nation’s socio-economic development would be deficient if the citizens were not secured.
He urged stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support and cooperate with the military and other security agencies in the fight against banditry and other security challenges in the country.
The governor assured the COAS of his government’s cooperation with the Nigerian army to mitigate the scourge of insecurity in the state.
In his responses, the COAS said he was on a working visit to the state and Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army, for the Doctrinal Development Conference, reviewing Army training and operational concepts.
He said the visit to the two former Heads of State and the Governor was to pay homage and interface with them in his effort to squarely address security challenges in Niger and the nation in general.
Yahaya expressed optimism that the armed forces and other security agencies would overcome the current security challenges with the proper support and cooperation from key stakeholders and the citizenry. (NAN)
