By Augustine Ehikioya
The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, Olufemi Oluyede, on Sunday 10 November, 2024, sought for collaboration to end security challenges in the country.
He made the call when he embarked on an operational tour to Sokoto State in the 8 Division Area of Responsibility.
A statement by Major General, Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), said that the Acting COAS on arriving Sokoto in the early hours of the day, immediately proceeded to Forward Operations Base Tangaza and 248 Battalion in Illela, where he received briefs on the security situation by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose.
Addressing troops deployed in Tangaza and illela, Gen Oluyede commended the troops for their sacrifice and commitment in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North West zone of the country.
He disclosed that he was on an operational tour to obtain first-hand information and assessment of the security situation and challenges of the troops.
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 charged 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, urged for synergy and collaboration with the troops.
He called on the people to support the troops with credible information, adding that it is with their support that the troops will effectively protect them and secure 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 stated.
