Going by the charge given by President Muhammadu Buhari on ensuring security, service chiefs came together in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, March 11, 2021, to address officers and troops on the need for partnership and collaboration, in order to face the threat of insecurity all over Nigeria.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Iraboh, who led other service chiefs to the headquarters of 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Odogbo Cantonment, said that armed forces of today demands that all of the services work together, emphasizing that their coming was to demonstrate leadership by example.
According to him, “we have come to be an encouragement team to work together, and to also let you know the charge the president has given to us that we must, in partnership with other
security agencies, take measures to bring sanity to bear within the country.”
Iraboh noted that there had been some misconceived ideas or opinions passed by uninformed people, to the effect that they believed that armed forces had been working in disparity groups.
He said that being in Ibadan was to let them know that such did not exist, adding that a brief had been given by the General Officer Commanding and Flag Officer Commanding.
Urging the officers to “keep up the spirit,” the Chief of Defence Staff said: “We know that you are doing the utmost to meet that objective, and we commend you.”
“We want to see across the length and breadth of the armed forces’ training activities and operational engagements that are result-oriented.
“In due course, the service chiefs will be coming to have interactions with you on a more detailed and general level.”
He also gave commendation on the commitment shown by the officers in tackling security challenges across the country.
He stressed that the cooperation existing among them must be maintained and sustained, and the liaison that had been displayed with other security agencies must also be maintained.
Addressing military troops, General Iraboh told them he was accompanied by service chiefs to come to see them, and to commend them for brilliant performance they had been putting forward.
He also spoke on the thorough brief they had on their operational engagements and other activities within their area of responsibility.
“We are convinced that you have been doing your utmost best to preserve the integrity of the armed forces. And we are delighted with your performance thus far.
“But I will like to let you know; while you have done quite well, the work is not over. The reason is that across the country and in your area in particular, there are still pockets of security challenges,” Iraboh stated further.
He added: “Mr President, the Commander-in-Chief, has charged us to ensure that we bring peace and security, in conjunction with other security agencies, within few weeks, across the country.
“This is part of the reason we are here and we have received thorough briefing as to what the 2 Division and all commands of the armed forces are doing collectively in ensuring that the directive of Mr President comes to fruition.”
He promised that the service chiefs would be coming, mostly at the services’ level, to follow up to see that the directives given to the GOC and all the commanders were being implemented.
He however beseeched them not to rest on their oars, urging them to keep up the spirit and heighten training activities across their various formations and units.
The Chief of Defence Staff said their exercises and operational engagements must be such that they would achieve results from.
With regards to the troops’ welfare and administration, General Iraboh told them that so much was being done to improve on their lot, while the details would be made known to them.
He encouraged them to be highly committed, disciplined and motivated, “so that, in no time, our land will know peace again. We want to see the end of terrorism.”
Other service chiefs with General Iraboh included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Auwwal Zubairu Gambo; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Isiaka Amao; the outgoing General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Major General Anthony Omozoje; and the incoming one, Major General Gold Chibuisi.
