From: Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Butatai, has said that Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, militancy in the Niger-Delta region and other criminalities in the country have challenged the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity.
Gen. Buratai while declaring open the First Commanding Officers’ Workshop organised by the Division 2, Nigerian Army Ibadan and held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday, said Nigeria was faced with security challenges that has impacted negatively on the livelihood of people.
Represented by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj Gen Lucky Irabor, the army chief said Boko Haram insurgency manifested the gravest danger to the nation’s national security.
“The Boko Haram insurgency, militancy, pipeline vandalism, cattle rustling as well as kidnapping, ethno-religious crisis, armed robbery and other forms of criminalities have constituted gravest danger to national security while also exposed lapses in the Nigerian Army operational capability and capacity,” he said.
He said the workshop was being held at the Operation Lafiya Dole command in Maiduguri because of the unique lessons in active operational area like the northeast where the military currently prosecute the counter-insurgency/terrorism war. He urged participants (commanding officers) to rededicate themselves and motivate their troops “towards being professionally responsive on the discharge of their constitutional roles.”
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army Ibadan, Maj.-Gen. Chukwudubem Abraham, said in his opening address that the theme of the workshop was apt considering the current security challenges in the country.
He said the theme; “Empowering Unit Commanders in the Nigerian Army to be professionally responsive in containing current security challenge in Nigeria,” was designed to foster espirit de corps and enhance synergy of efforts to protect national security. He said commanding officers have the onerous responsibilities of shapping the spirit and psyche of troops they are commanding.
He said participants were expected to learn and appreciate the strategies and method applied by other commanders and troops in the war against Boko Haram in the northeast. Participants were drawn from 2, 6, 7, 8, 81 and 82 divisions of the Nigerian Army.