Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru.
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR-
The new Chief Army Staff, COAS, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, on Monday said that the Nigeria Army would team up with troops of neighbouring countries from Cameroon, Niger and Chad republic in order to finally annihilate insurgency in the country.
Major General Attahiru stated this on Monday during an operational tour to Commands and Army formations in the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole, Headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno state’s capital.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the COAS’ visit to the theater command was meant to assess critical operational situations on ground with a view to tackling them towards ending the Boko Haram Insurgency.
According to Maj. Gen Attahiru: “The entire process is that when you take over Command, you visit troops to meet them first hand and they tell you what their problems are, then you go back and articulate and ensure those problems are resolved”.
“This is what I can tell Nigerians. It is not just the Northeast Theatre, we are equally ensuring gallantry of our operations in other parts of the country. We will ensure that people do their work so that insecurity will be a thing of the past. There are challenges which are not insummauntable”.
“I will not start elaborating on those challenges. There are challenges that reduce military effectiveness and we are going to address them. The president and commander-in- Chief is interested in what goes on in this Theatre, ” the COAS further said .
He added that he had received somes complains from the troops, promising that their demands would be meet as soon as possible.
“I know you have pushed these terrorists so far. You will continue to do the same thing subsequently. Another thing is the issue of lack of equipment, I was briefed about it and we are making tremendously efforts towards addressing that. As your Chief of Army staff, I have been equally told of your kitting, in the next couple of weeks, you will have your boots, your uniforms and protective gears”.
“Furthermore, I know the issue of overstay in the mission have been a major problem. We will not do that almost immediately, but be rest assured that in the next couple of weeks or months, we shall have a standard rotation plan that most of you will leave the Theatre replaced and be replaced by some other soldiers, so that we can continue the war”.
While commending the soldiers for their bravery, gallantry as well as achievements recorded so far in the fight against insurgency, The COAS stressed that the Army would continue to consolidate its efforts on success earlier recorded in order to give a final blow to the terrorists.
“I see this war ending soon so that all of us can go back and stay back with our families. In the next couple of days, you will receive my command’s philosophy that directs you on how we are going to run the Nigerian Army. A proud Army, a professional Army, and Army committed to make Nigerians proud that they indeed have an Army,” Attahiru said.