General Lagbaja Assures Troops that Nigeria Stands with them to Defeat Adversaries

The entire nation stands with the Nigerian Army in the fight to defeat the adversaries of the country, restore peace and stability.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja gave the assurance, while addressing frontline troops of Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, during a Christmas Luncheon with the troops in Giginya Barracks, Sokoto.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu. 

According to the statement, General Lagbaja lauded the Troop's unwavering dedication and sacrifice in confronting security challenges in the country, pointing out that they will be empowered with requisite combat enablers, logistics to effectively enhance their operational capacity.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Major General Godwin Mutkut appreciated the COAS for the construction and renovation of numerous structures in the Division. 

He catalogued the infrastructures provided by the Army Chief to include beffiting living accommodation, 7.5 MVA Transformer to ensure stable electricity supply, tarring of roads in the Barracks, Construction of Obstacle Course in units, establishment of a Battalion at Ilela and other Forward Operating Basis, as well as provision of required platforms to up operational effectiveness. 

The COAS later paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Sokoto state Dr. Hammad Aliyu at the Sokoto state Government House, where he divulged that he was in the state to motivate and enhance troops' resoluteness in the ongoing fight against terrorists and bandits. This he said is to restore peace and socio economic development in the state and the North West of the country. Gen Lagbaja expressed gratitude to the State Government for its support to the troops. 

The state Governor Hammad Aliyu noted that the presence of the COAS having lunch with troops during the Christmas celebration will go a long extent to increase the morale of troops. He added, that the luncheon came barely two weeks after the gallant troops rescued over 60 persons from terrorists' enclave. He urged the troops to remain steadfast in securing the state and the nation in general.

Highlights of the event were the commissioning of a Multipurpose Hall in Giginya Barracks by the COAS, dishing of food by the COAS to wounded in action soldiers and performance by cultural troupes.