By Ndahi Inusa, Maiduguri
The Chief of Army Staff, CoAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has said that the Nigerian Army under his leadership is fully determined to address all the challenges affecting troops’ operations in the ongoing war to eliminate remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East geo-political zone.
Lagbaja stated this while speaking to journalists on Friday while on an operational visit to the North East Theatre of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri.
The Archy Chief noted that the Nigerian Army has been recieving adequate support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, adding that necessary security steps would be taken to address insecurity not only in the North-East, but the country in general.
Lamenting that the increasing cases of kidnappings, banditry, planting of improvised explosive devices, IEDs, by terrorists on highways is alarming, he expressed confidence that these new trend would be nipped in the bud very soon.
On why he is in Borno State, the CoAS said, “Since my assumption of office on the 23rd of June this year, I visited this theatre to felicitate with my troops during celebration of Eid-El-Kabir. So I am back hear this time around for an operational visit.
“I was just been briefed by the Theatre Commander on the operational, administrative and other security issues. I am here to also physically interact with troops so that I can have a first hand information on the challenges affecting formations and units with a view to quickly address it adequately.
“From here, I will go round all the sector headquarters in Monguno, Damaturu among others to hear from the troops and take necessary actions in addressing the challenges that we have observed in the theatre, especially the new trend of kidnapping of civilians on the highways and the use of IEDs to attack vehicles.
“I have also used the opportunity to commission the newly constructed two-story building of 30 families for corporals and below of the Nigerian Army, which will be allocated to the beneficiaries and their families.”
