Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, on Tuesday lamented that the insecurity in Nigeria poses “substantive threats” to the existence of the nation, just as he vowed to “decimate all adversaries” terrorizing the peace of the country.
The army has also said that it has continued to review the security architecture and re-strategise to bridge observed gaps, as well as build the right fighting will for the threats.
He identified such threats to include varied acts of insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping and banditry from Boko Haram Terrorists, Islamic States of West Africa (ISWAP) to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network (ESN) and other terrorists’ organisations.
Speaking at the opening of a seminar on Intensifying Warriors Ethos held in Abuja, General Yahaya, represented by Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Major General Anthony Omozodje, noted that “the Nigerian Army has continued to respond assiduously to contain and decimate all adversaries in line with his vision to defeat all adversaries of Nigeria.
‘The volatile and complex security emergencies facing the nation have necessitated the continuous review of the National Security Architecture to contain the threats. Varied acts of insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping and banditry from BHT, ISWAP to IPOB, ECN and other terrorist organisations have continued to pose substantive threats to the nation.
“Our troops have however continued to respond assiduously to contain and decimate all adversaries in line with my maiden message on the assumption of office, that all adversaries of Nigeria must be defeated decisively. Thus, sustaining and insisting on a winning mentality must be inculcated into all troops.”
Yahaya said that the seminar put together by the Department of Transformation and Innovation is aimed at boosting the fighting spirit of the personnel deployed in the North East, Northwest and other operational theatres across Nigeria.
‘This seminar is coming at a time the adversaries have changed their tactics and are focused on kidnapping for ransom, attacking the nation’s critical infrastructure such as rail lines, power lines, communication networks, airports etc which is intended to cause paralysis in the country. To address these threats, it has become expedient to review the current security architecture and re-strategise to bridge observed gaps, as well as build the right fighting will for the threats,’ he stated.
Earlier in his address, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation Major General Charles Ofoche, said the Seminar was organised to brainstorm and proffer practicable ways of imbibing the warrior ethos in troops which encompass the will, zeal and spirit to fight for the end.
He added that the re-invigoration of the fighting will is essential to building a formidable 21st-century Army.
‘This will not only boost the attainment of Nigerian Army missions but also effectively propel the cardinal pillars of Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy which is hinged on Professionalism, Readiness, Administration and Cooperation. Furthermore, it is expected to inspire the Nigerian Army to strive for better output in terms of operational effectiveness,’ he said.
