Lagbaja to troops: Nigerians are with you to defeat Nigeria’s adversaries

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured troops of the Nigerian Army that the citizens stand with them in the fight to defeat the nation’s adversaries to restore peace and stability in the country.

Lagbaja gave the assurance while addressing the troops of Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, during a Christmas luncheon in Giginya Barracks, Sokoto, on Monday, December 25, 2023.

Commending the troops, the Chief of Army Staff lauded their dedication and sacrifice in confronting security challenges in the country, adding that they will be empowered with requisite combat enablers and logistics to effectively enhance their operational capacity.

Also speaking at the event, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Maj Gen Godwin Mutkut, thanked Lagbaja for the construction and renovation of numerous structures in the Division.

He listed the infrastructures provided by the army chief to include befitting living accommodation, 7.5 MVA Transformer to ensure stable electricity supply, tarring of roads in the Barracks, construction of obstacle course in units, establishment of a Battalion at Ilela and other Forward Operating Basis, and provision of required platforms to up operational effectiveness.

Lagbaja later paid a courtesy visit to Sokoto State Governor, Dr Hammad Aliyu, at the Government House in Sokoto, where he said he was in the state to motivate and enhance troops’ resoluteness in the ongoing fight against terrorists and bandits to restore peace and socio-economic development in the state and the North-West of the country.

Responding, Aliyu said taking out time by the COAS to have lunch with troops during the Christmas celebration will go a long extent to increase the morale of troops.

The governor added that the luncheon came barely two weeks after the troops rescued over 60 persons from terrorists’ enclave.

He urged the troops to remain steadfast in securing the state and the country at large.

Highlights of the event were the commissioning of a Multipurpose Hall in Giginya Barracks by Lagbaja, dishing of food by the COAS to wounded soldiers, and performance by cultural troupes.

The Star

Segun Ojo