As the Nigerian military continues its determined manhunt against terrorist and other criminal elements in a bid to safeguard the country in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Lagbaja for his tactical and operational coordination of the military which has led to the capture of many informants and elimination of top Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders in different theatres of operation across the country.
On assumption of duty, the current Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen. Lagbaja vowed that the military under his watch will not condone the activities of unknown gunmen in the South East who held the people captive and declared a compulsory sit-at-home in the zone, thereby crippling the economic activities in the area and killings scores of innocent people with properties worth billions of naira destroyed.
In a press release duly signed by Chief Michael Msuaan (MON) and Dr. Adamu Mohammed, Convener and Co-convener of the group respectively, the group lauded the Chief of Army Staff and the military for sustaining the morale and operational readiness of troops since assumption of office.
The release read in part, “presently, there’s a significant reduction in the activities of Boko Haram and bandits along the Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger States axis. This is clearly as a result of the intensive military onslaught on the criminals in the area. The superior firepower of the Nigerian military has annihilated and secured the areas that were once flashpoints of insecurity.
“Lt. Gen. Lagbaja is indeed an exceptional Commander who leads from the front like the legendary Napoleon Bonaparte of the French Army. This explains the high morale of soldiers and their operational efficiency. The Chief of Army Staff has continued to provide effective leadership and enhanced welfare packages for troops and this is highly commendable”.
The CSO equally commended the Nigerian Army for the significant improvement in oil production and reduction in oil bunkering in the country, attributing it to the strategic synergy between the military under Lt. Gen. Lagbaja and other security agencies.
“We are proud of the Nigerian Military for bringing an end to crude oil theft, bunkering, illegal refining and other criminal atrocities in the Niger Delta region. Troops of the Nigerian Army have been relentless in tackling the activities of pipeline vandals and oil thieves as well as arresting and destroying several illegal refineries in the oil rich region for enhanced revenue generation for the country. This what Mr. President promised Nigerians and we glad it has been achieved”, the statement added.
The right group also hailed the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Lagbaja for decisively putting an end to the activities of herdsmen who hitherto were in constantly clashing with the farmers “with grave implication for food security and the sustenance of rural livelihoods”.
In a related development, the group described the procurement of the modern hardwares and equipment as well as the training and education of officers and men of the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Lagbaja as topnotch and the best thing that has happened to the Army in a long time.
“The Nigerian Army has scored very high in the fight against insecurity in the country. The Army has not just procured the best weapons in the world but they are also manufacturing some locally. We salute Mr. President for his support and funding of the Nigerian Military. He must not fall for the blackmail of few enemies of the country who are seriously bent on sabotaging the efforts of our Armed forces.
“Nigerians must sustain their prayers and support for the military. President Tinubu is doing well but we all have a role to play. We must not allow our enemies to triumph over us. Security is indeed everybody’s business and we cannot leave to a few. Gathering and sharing critical intelligence with security forces will go a long way in curbing insecurity once and for all,” the group concluded.