By Augustine Ehikioya
As socio-economic activities continue to thrive in the North East, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General, Taoreed Lagbaja, has maintained that the activities of Operation HADIN KAI has effectively curtailed Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the area.
According to him, the overall efforts have resulted in the large-scale surrendering of members of the terrorist groups and submission of a large cache of arms and ammunition to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
He said that banditry and insurgency in the North West and North Central parts of the country have also been adequately put under check.
The Army Chief spoke while declaring open the 2023 Chief of Army Staff’s Combined Second And Third Quarters Conference held in Abuja on Tuesday 12th September, 2023. Security Watch Africa (SWA) was there.
He said “It is heart-warming to note that our activities in Operation HADIN KAI in the North East have effectively curtailed Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the Region. Overall, our efforts have resulted in the large-scale surrender of members of the terrorist groups and thesubmission of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
“The good people of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States are steadily picking up their livelihood as the military, in collaboration with the government, is helping to restore governance to the hitherto deprived areas.
“The operational activities of our troops in Operation HADARIN DAJI and Operation WHIRL PUNCH have also greatly checkmated banditry and insurgency in the North West and North Central Regions of the Country,” he stated.
Stressing that the Army in collaboration with other security agencies have also been able to end the sit-at-home order in the South East, he said that criminal activities have been quelled in the South West while there is increasing onslaught against oil thieves in the South South.
“We have equally heightened our efforts in containing criminalities perpetrated in the South East Region by the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network.
“Through Operation UDO KA, our troops have, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, put an end to the infamous sit-at-home order that has almost crippled socio-economic activities in the Region. Law-abiding citizens of the Region now go about their businesses and everyday life.
“Similarly, our joint efforts with various government agencies have quelled attempts by criminals to disrupt economic activities in the South West Region. Our troops’ upscaled anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in Operation DELTA SAFE in the South South Region have also yielded tremendous outcomes.”
He however added “Although we are not there yet in terms of the level of success we hope to achieve in our anti-illegal bunkering operations; there is no denying the fact that we have seen appreciable improvement in the country’s daily crude production.
“As you are aware, all military operations come at a cost, the quantum of which cannot be accurately determined before they are incurred. To this end, it is an open secret that we have sometimes suffered painful setbacks and have paid for our successes in blood and treasures.
“However, I am glad to observe that we have remained resolute in our drive to deny all criminal elements in our society respite, as their dastardly acts have only strengthened our resolve to intensify our onslaught against them.”
The Army Chief noted that to enhance operational effects, the Nigerian Army has established some Special Forces units using specially trained personnel to tackle various criminalities across the Country.
The Special Forces units, he said, have continued to record impressive performances through intelligence-led operations and the use of special equipment.
“As we continue to procure and induct more sophisticated platforms and equipment into the various theatres as force multipliers, I charge field commanders to ensure the maintenance of these platforms and equipment to prolong their life span and enable the nation to optimize its investment, ” he stated.
In keeping with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the Armed Forces and other security agencies should decisively deal with all security challenges facing the Country, he said “we must continue to conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects us as a committed force.
“In line with this, I conceived my Command Philosophy to “transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.”
“This Philosophy will guide and drive our actions and engagements as I lead the Nigerian Army into becoming a force ready to operate and respond to any form of threat in any domain and spectrum, within and outside the boundaries of Nigeria through joint efforts.”
According to him, troops’ welfare and that of their families will remain predominant under his tenure.
As a way forward, he said that he intends to consolidate all existing welfare arrangements to enhance the well-being of troops and their families, which will keep them focused on their tasks.
He said “In addition to providing befitting living quarters for our personnel, we shall ensure the newly introduced ‘Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers Scheme’ designed to provide affordable and high- quality post-service homes for our soldiers work.
“We shall also ensure that our injured warriors get the best medical care and continue to support the widows and next-of-kins of our fallen heroes.”
He expressed Nigerian Army’s gratitude to President Tinubu, for directing all pending Group Life Assurance payment owed to the families of departed warriors to be paid without delay.
The Army Chief also thanked the President for his strategic guidance and the confidence reposed on the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He went on “On behalf of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I want to reiterate our unalloyed loyalty and pledge our total commitment to the defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Concluding his speech, he said “Permit me to remind you that the enemies we fight are emboldened by weakness; strength is what keeps them to stand back. Therefore, we must be willing, able, and ready to project an appropriate level of force to confront situations as they develop across the Country.”
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the conference, he assured that no zone in the country will be left unprotected.
According to him, there will be upscale in equipment and manpower in all the Theatre of Operations in the country in order to ensure peace, stability and relief to law-abiding citizens.
Answering question on insurance, he said “The Federal Government has a scheme termed ‘The Group Life Assurance’, designed to give succour to the families of departed warriors.
“And this scheme works in such a way that the government pays premium to the insurance company and in the event of death, the insurance company pays claim to the families of our departed heroes.
“However, we have a backlog between the year 2012 and 2022 when claims were not paid and some people died in the course of service to the nation.
“The insurance company is not at liberty to pay claims for premiums not paid. And that is why the Federal Government has taken it upon itself at this stage to discharge that backlog and bring relief to the families of our departed colleagues.” He stated.
In his welcome address earlier, the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General AB Ibrahim, noted that discussions, inputs and contributions during the conference will help the Nigerian Army to consolidate on the current successes at the various theatres of Operations and towards charting a progressive course in reshaping the future.
Stressing that the conference is timely, he said, it will enable the Nigerian Army to assess the current situation and plan for the future.
He urged the personnel not to be discouraged by the recent ambush in Niger State.
