Te Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede yesterday urged the Nigerian Army’s troops not to allow the current setback in the war against insurgency to dampen their morale but to develop commitment, sacrifices, and practical strategies for defeating the terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements troubling the country.
Lt Gen Oluyede, who came with top military brass to Maiduguri to participate in the First 2025 Bi-Annual Army Conference he organised, unveiled new vanquish armoured tankers which were handed over to the chief host, the Theatre Commander North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, for operations.
LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the meeting is coming at a time when some parts of the North-East, especially Borno State, are witnessing renewed Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks and another form of criminality.
Each of the new vanquish armoured tankers, according to the staff of the company that constructed the tankers, Engr Ishaku Duwa , said the equipment has night goggle vision, which can move for over 80kms on flat tyres, with all suspension changes and 360° degrees protection.
Declaring the Conference open at the MSA Aliyu Hall, Command Guest House, Maimalari Cantonment, the COAS, Lt. Gen Oluyede said the pivotal gathering would deliver strategic foresight, operational alignment, and insight into where military and community engagements converge.
He pointed out that during the 3-day deliberation on topical issues during the conference, the Nigerian Army under his watch would identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions that would strengthen effectiveness in safeguarding the nation’s peace and security.
Oluyede enjoined Nigerian Armed Forces not to allow the current setback to dampen their spirit, but to develop commitment, sacrifices and practical strategies to end insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of crimes in the country.
He added that the Nigerian Army is committed to aligning kinetic and non-kinetic operations with the dynamic nature of the operating environment.
He noted that despite the renewed pockets of attacks in the North-East, North-West and other parts of the country, there is no cause for alarm, as the Nigerian Army and other security agencies are fully committed to bringing lasting peace and development under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Army boss said: “ It is my pleasure to join you all here in the MSA Aliyu Hall, Command Guest House, Maiduguri for the Chief of Army Staff First Bi-
Annual Conference 2025. The highlights from the deliberations have been well received and will certainly assist in guiding the decisions and directives that shall stem from this Conference.
“ My sincere appreciation goes to the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) for holding the fort in my absence. I also extend a most profound gratitude to other principal staff officers, Formation Commanders, corps commanders, heads of Nigerian Army institutions or establishments and everyone here who has ensured that the activities went on without hitches.
“Nevertheless, I encourage us all to continue in the same stead and passion, so that we can have an even more productive outing going forward.
“As we continue with the schedule of activities today, it is my expectation that this pivotal gathering will deliver strategic foresight, operational alignment and an insight to where military and community engagements converge.
“During the deliberation on topical issues, our goal will be to identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions that would strengthen our effectiveness in safeguarding the nation’s peace and security.
“Recall that during the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2024, I acknowledged the need for the Nigerian Army to commit towards aligning our kinetic and non-kinetic operations with the dynamic nature of the operating environment.
“It is evident that the terrorists have adopted new strategies that are aimed at shaping the battlespace in their favour.”
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