To Enhance Troops’ Effectiveness, Lagbaja Pledges More Combat Enablers, Other Operational Requirements
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, pledged more support for troops in the form of combat enablers and other operational requirements to enhance their operational effectiveness in safeguarding their area of responsibility (AOR).
The COAS has also lauded troops of 1 Brigade Nigerian Army for their resilience and sacrifice in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North-west.
This is coming as Nigerian Army Headquarters said troops killed three terrorists in an ambush operation in Kaduna.
It said in a statement signed by Army Spokesman, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu that the troops acting on credible intelligence targeted the terrorist group known for using motorbikes to carry out nefarious activities in the region.
The Army Chief gave the commendation yesterday when he paid an operational visit to 1 Brigade in Gusau, Zamfara State, where he was briefed by the Commander, 1 Brigade, Brig Gen Sani Ahmed on troops' activities and successes in the conduct of the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity II in Zamfara and the contiguous states.
Lagbaja pledged more support in the form of combat enablers and other operational requirements to enhance troops’ operational effectiveness in safeguarding their area of responsibility.
The COAS also seized the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello Sarkin Katsinan Gusau, where he expressed appreciation to the royal father and the good people of Gusau for their support to the troops and the Nigerian Army in general.
He assured him that with continued support and cooperation of the people, terrorism and insurgency will be surmounted.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army Headquarters said troops killed three terrorists in an ambush operation in Kaduna.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops targeted the terrorist group, known for using motorbikes to carry out nefarious activities in the region.
"During the operation on Friday, 4 April 2024, around Kidandan Village, Giwa Local Government of Kaduna State, the troops engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, neutralising three of them.
"The terrorist group was in transit to repair their motorbikes, which they used as mobility when unleashing their acts of terror on the populace in Kaduna State and across the North-west region," it said.
The statement said the operation also led to the recovery of one Ak- 47 Rifle, one stock Ak-47 Rifle, four motorbikes, and one Motorola radio.
Army Denies Setting Indicted Soldiers of Northern Extraction Free
In another development, the Nigerian Army yesterday denied allegations that it freed soldiers of northern extraction accused of murder, while soldiers of southern extraction also involved in the same case were kept in detention.
According to the Army, a Military Court Martial set up to try all the soldiers indicted in the case, was composed of 60 per cent of officers from the southern part of the country.
Two Nigerian soldiers who were being court-martialled in the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army for murder were reportedly freed and re-absorbed into service.
The two soldiers are Private Usman Shonva and another identified only as Audu.
While Shonva allegedly shot and killed one of his coursemates in Ohafia, Abia State in 2022, Audu was accused of killing a Togolese national and one other person in Anambra State
But the Nigerian Army argued that the allegations that the decision of the court was skewed in favour of the soldiers from northern extraction were unfounded.
A separate statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major Gen Nwachukwu said the Nigerian Army is a professional organisation, which does not bring ethnicity or religion into its decision-making process but acts on facts and evidence.
The statement reads: “Notably, the composition of the Court Martial was not based on regional representation, rather, the membership of the court was diverse, with personnel drawn from various regions of the country.
“It is exigent to note that the President of the Court Martial is of northern extraction, while the
Judge Advocate is from the South.
“Additionally, 60 per cent of the Court Martial members are of southern extraction, demonstrating a fair and balanced representation, even though religion and ethnicity are not major focal criteria in the decision-making process of the NA.
“The decision of a Court Martial is collective and based on evidence presented during the trial.
“The said Court Martial tried the personnel, irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations, and the outcome was determined strictly based on the evidence presented.
It said that: “In espousing the position of the NA in the cases mentioned in the report, taking that of Private Usman Shonva for instance, evidence revealed that there were other soldiers at the scene of the incident, who also fired their weapons.