Army Chief Charges Troops to Crush Bandits in North-West

Army Chief Charges Troops to Crush Bandits in North-West

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has charged troops of 8 Division and Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) to intensify their operations against bandits marauding in parts of North West, Nigeria. The COAS gave the charge on Wednesday 4 August 2021 in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, while addressing troops during his operational tour of 8 Division and its formations and units.

Commending the troops for their operational exploits in curtailing the activities of the criminals, General Yahaya urged them to promote synergy among the military and other security agencies, describing it, as a strategy that will speed up the end of banditry in the region.

The COAS urged the officers and soldiers to be proactive and resilient in order to crush the bandits and expedite the restoration of normalcy to the affected states. He assured the troops that their welfare is uppermost in the agenda of his command. Gen Yahaya admonished them to ensure they conduct their operations in compliance with extant operational codes of conduct and regulations. He added, that troops must always show respect for the fundamental human rights of law abiding citizens in the conduct of their operations.

Meanwhile, in his brief to the COAS, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Usman Yusuf informed that troops’ anti banditry operations have been reinvigorated to expeditiously bring about peace and stability in the region.

The COAS also paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Bello Muhammad, where discussions were held on the security situation of the state and the North West in general.

Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of Nigerian Army’s memento to the Governor.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations
4 August 2021
…….

SSCQE: COAS URGES MID-LEVEL CADRE OFFICERS TO PROMOTE COMPETENCE, GOOD CONDUCT

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya today urged candidates of this year’s Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination (SSCQE) to up the standard, as the Nigerian Army (NA) will always reward competence diligence and good conduct. The COAS expressed this, while addressing 257 Mid-level cadre officers of the NA between the ranks of Major and Captain, at the Ihejirika Auditorium, Jaji, Kaduna.

Lt Gen Yahaya observed that the exams will not only qualify the candidates for Senior Staff Course, but will also have a long term effect on their career. He therefore, urged them to effectively utilize the opportunity. The COAS averred that the Army will always place premium on competence, character and good conduct in its career progression examinations, such as the SSCQE.

The COAS used the occasion to commend the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Victor Ezugwu and staff Officers of the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre for the untiring effort demonstrated in hosting another successful SSCQE in Jaji.

In his remarks, the Exams President, who is the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Major General Stevenson Olabanji assured that this year’s exams will bring out the best from the officers.

He pointed out that this year’s exams have been carefully prepared to depict real time scenarios in the country. He observed that the questions are domesticated, putting into consideration, the contemporary security challenges experienced in some parts of the country. He declared that the effort is to ensure that this crop of officers are better than they were, before writing the qualifying exams.

Present at the event were the Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College AVM Ebenezar Alade, Chief of Operations (Army) Maj Gen Olufemi Akinjobi, Provost Marshal (Army) Maj Gen Robert Aiyenigba, General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Danjuma Ali-keffi, Commandant Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Maj Gen Gadzama Ali, as well as Principal Staff Officers of Army Headquarters and TRADOC.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations
4 August 2021