Chief of army staff lays down the gauntlet to his commanders saying insecurity must end now

NIGERIA'S ongoing security challenges may finally start getting addressed after the new chief of army staff Lt General Faruk Yahaya directed all his formation commanders to ensure the tempo of all their operations across the country is sustained and maintained.

Over recent years, Nigeria has been a lawless nation with terrorists, armed bandits, Fulani cattle herdsmen, kidnappers, rapists and all other sorts of hoodlums. Security operatives have appeared helpless in the face of the onslaught and President Muhammadu Buhari has come in for a lot of criticism over his inaction over the matter, which has emboldened the criminals.

In what appears to be a change of direction, Lt General Yahaya, who only assumed office on May 27 this year, has laid down the gauntlet for all commanders and principal staff officers. He told them that the Nigerian Army under him remains determined to restore peace to the nation and the officers were central to ensuring the successes in its operations.

Lt General Yahaya maintained that they must devise initiatives that would enable the army to curtail insecurity at their commands, adding that he would not accept excuses henceforth. Speaking at the Chief of Army Staff Combined Second and Third Quarter Conference 2021 in Abuja, Lt General Yahaya was involved in brainstorming and reviewing the activities of the army within the second and third quarters of 2021.

“As officers and commanders under whose charge are placed men, materiel and other resources, you are the key drivers of these pillars. You must therefore note that even if we have all we require, we might not achieve much without you providing effective leadership.

“I therefore charge you all to immediately key in to my vision so that together, we can take the Nigerian Army to greater heights. Commanders must seize initiative and commanders must take initiative, they must take decisive actions to defeat the threats in their respective Area of responsibilities and I will not again take or accept excuses.

“Gentlemen, failure is failure irrespective of the circumstances. The Nigerian Army under my watch remains resolute and continue to chart progressive paths towards tackling the security challenges confronting the country.

“Hence, I have directed that serious attention be given to sustaining and improving the tempo in all ongoing Nigerian Army operations across the country. I will continue to demand that you redouble your efforts so that we can decisively deal with our adversaries or any group or person that threaten the peace and stability of our great nation.

“I have also directed for the conduct of special operations especially in the north central and northwest regions to address the deteriorating security infractions in the regions. Commanders must therefore glean from my command philosophy to ensure that operational and administrative proficiencies of Nigerian Army units and formations are sustained and improved upon,” Lt General Yahaya.