By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The Chief of Arnmy Staff, CoAS, Lt. Gen, Farouk Yahaya, has insisted that the Nigerian Army under his leadership will continue to be non-partisan in the discharge of its professional responsibilities to ensure free, fair, peaceful and credible elections come 2023.
And to achieve this, General Yahaya enthused that the Nigerian Army would continue to work in synergy with the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Police Force, other para-military agencies and the media to restore peace in the country.
The Army Chief stated this on Friday while addressing officers and men of the Joint Task Force, North East, ‘Operation Hadin Kai,’ under the Theatre Commander, Major General Christopher Musa, at the Officers Mess, Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State.
General Yahaha said, that he was in the theatre for a routine visit, and to interact with troops at the frontline, so as to physically identify with any challenges confronting them, with a view to nip such in the bud, and to also boost the morale of troops in crushing remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the region.
He said, “I want to assure all Nigerians that the Army will remain impartial. We have witnessed previous elections, and the Nigerian Army will not deviate from its constitutional roles.
“We are going to create a condusive environment for a free and fair elections come 2023 to show the sustenance of democracy.”
Commending the sacrifices made by troops under the Theatre Commander, Major General Musa, and the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Div, Nigerian Army, Major General Shaibu Waidi, and all stakeholders, the CoAS admitted that “such sacrifices led to over 81,000 terrorists who have since surrendered to troops, including the relative peace currently witnessed in the North East sub region.”
General Yahaya added, “The Nigerian Army would continue to work in synergy with the Nigerian Air Force, the Navy, the Police, other para-military agencies and the media to restore peace in the country.”
He specifically appreciated the role of the media in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities, even as he urged media practitioners to sustain the good tempo, based on the ethics of the profession.
