Security

CDS, COAS Honour Troops at Christmas

By Web News 288

By Mary Fatile (Lagos) 

The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has honoured frontline troops of Operation Fansan Yamma with a special Christmas luncheon at Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto State.

The operational visit to the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North West), Operation Fansan Yamma, aimed to boost morale, recognise the sacrifices of troops, and reinforce strategic directives guiding ongoing security operations across the North West.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station

Addressing officers and soldiers, General Oluyede conveyed warm Yuletide greetings and commended the troops for their courage, discipline, and unwavering commitment to duty, particularly while many Nigerians marked the festive season with their families.

The CDS praised the operational gains recorded under Operation Fansan Yamma, noting that the troops’ efforts have helped restore public confidence and stabilise the North West geopolitical zone and neighbouring states.

He called for sustained collaboration with other security agencies, federal and state authorities, and continued engagement with local communities to consolidate peace.

General Oluyede assured the troops that their welfare remains a top priority, pledging improved living and working conditions, enhanced healthcare delivery, and sustained support for personnel families.

He also urged heightened vigilance during the festive period, warning that criminal elements often seek to exploit such occasions.

The CDS expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his consistent support for military operations, reaffirming the Armed Forces’ resolve to combat terrorism and all forms of criminality nationwide.

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, described the Christmas luncheon as a long-standing tradition to honour the sacrifices, resilience, and professionalism of troops in operational theatres.

He noted that the season offers a time for reflection, thanksgiving, and remembrance of fallen heroes whose sacrifices continue to secure the nation.

Lieutenant General Shaibu assured troops that the Nigerian Army would continue to support families of fallen personnel and uphold their legacy.

He reiterated his command philosophy of building a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient Army, with strong emphasis on personnel welfare, rewards for excellence, and operational readiness.

Both Service Chiefs reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to safeguarding national peace, unity, and democratic stability, while wishing the troops a Merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year 2026.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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Security

Your Welfare Remains Paramount, COAS Assures Officers

By Web News 500

By Rasheedah Makinde

Good leadership, operational effectiveness and sound administration in the Nigerian Army would go a long way in tackling insecurity in the country.

 The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja stated this during a familiarization tour to 2 Division Nigerian Army Ibadan. 

 Lieutenant General Lagbaja gave assurance that under his leadership, the Nigerian Army would be repositioned to effectively turn the nation into a safer place. 

He said the visit to the 2 Division became imperative to physically assess the officers as well as have a one-on-one interactive with them on different challenges affecting their performances. 

 The Army boss said he was optimistic that the visit would motivate and drive the officers to continue to give their best to the nation. 

 He, therefore, called on the soldiers to gear up be more dedicated and always be ready to provide quality services to Nigerians. 

“The GOC and I have discussed about challenges you are experiencing in terms of accommodation, shortage of personnel, protection gears, uniforms, support weapons and the like. I have taken notes of all the challenges and we will address them “

 “The government is doing a lot to address the challenges that confront us as the Nigerian Army. The issue of the group live assurance that has been long drawn is receiving due attention of Mr President as he had given the approval to clear the backlog” 

“For our departed colleagues, to have their family left behind paid what is their entitlement in terms of group live assurance” 

 For all other entitlements, the government was doing similar things and the Army was being transformed not only in terms of accommodation but also in terms of force structure “

The Chief of Army Staff hinted that the Nigerian Army aviation would soon be operationalized with the arrival of an MP53K helicopter to increase the performance of the troops in the theatre war.

 Lieutenant Lagbaja said as part of his efforts to reform the Nigerian Army, he had recently flagged off an end-of-the-year exercise which included still water, enduring peace and a golden door to run from now to January 5 2024. 

 He said the purpose of the exercises was to ensure and conduct real-time operation in collaboration with sister agencies in order to neutralize bandits camps, and bursting a drug cartel in a bid to ensure that peace and stability were maintained nationwide. 

 The Chief of Army Staff noted that some personnel would soon be deployed for the exercises and enjoined them to act in line with the rules of engagement and code of conduct of the Nigerian Army.

 Highlights of the visit included the inauguration of central ordinance deport motor transport and technical building, tree planting and inspection of the Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo and Letmack Barracks Mokola Ibadan.

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Security

My mission is to reposition the army – Major Gen. Lagbaja

By Web News 1338

Rasheedah Makinde/Iyabo Adebisi

Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, says that part of his vision is to reposition the Army to assume a higher level of professionalism in addressing security challenges confronting the country.

He gave the assurance while speaking with journalists shortly after he paid a courtesy call on Governor Seyi Makinde at the Agodi state Secretariat,Ibadan.

Major General Lagbaja said he was poised to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and operationally efficient army towards achieving its constitutional responsibilities.

The Major General also said the purpose of the visit was to officially intimate the Governor, on the activities of the 160th anniversary of the Nigerian Army, holding at the 2 division of Nigerian Army, Ibadan.

The Chief of Army staff equally lauded governor Makinde for various infrastructural supports, the 2 division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan had enjoyed under his administration. 

While receiving the Chief of Army Staff in his office, Governor  Makinde encouraged the leadership of the Nigerian Army to engage their people and be focused in surmounting the challenges facing the nation.

Governor Makinde commended the professionalism applied by the Nigerian Army to ensure that the last general elections conducted in the state were free and fair.

The governor expressed the readiness of his government to ensure cordial relationship between the  government and Nigerian Army to maintain peace and tranquility in the state.

Also, Major General Lagbaja held a jaw to jaw with ex service men in celebration of Nigerian Army day 2023 where he called  on them to partner the military with thier wealth of experiences gathered during their service years to tackle security issues headon.

He promised that the military would always include them in the fight against insurgents and banditry that posed as threat to the development of the Nation.

The Chief of Army staff later paid homage to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mahood Balogun where he solicited the support of traditional rulers to collectively wage war against insecurity.

The theme for this year’s Nigerian army day celebration is ” sound administrative as a panacea for effective military operations “.

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Security

Army Chief Assures Nigerians of Safety During March 18 Election

By Web News 602 Post a comment

… Inaugurates project in Kishi

By Rasheedah Makinde

Three days to the Governorship and State Assemblies Elections,  Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant, Farouk Yahaya has assured Nigerians of a secure and safe environment before,  during and after the exercise.
Lieutenant General Yahaya stated this while inaugurating a Nigerian Army civil military corporation project at Kishi general hospital, Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State. 
The chief of Army staff applauded Nigerians for the way and manner they conducted themselves during the presidential and National Assembly Election and called for more of it on Saturday to collectively achieve a hitch-free exercise.
General Yahaya who also inaugurated sixty bedded wards at Kishi General hospital said the project fell under the special intervention civil military corporation projects.
He said the Army had recently embarked on elaborate quick-impact projects in several communities with a view to providing the desired succour and further strengthening relationships with people.
General Yahaya stressed that the projects were to complement the already existing basic services, amenities and infrastructure that would alleviate some hardship being faced by the communities.
”This has over time significantly contributed to the Nigerian Army efforts to contain the myriad of security challenges in Nigeria particularly through non-kinetic means”
“The Chief of Army staff’s civil-military intervention corporation of serving Nigerian Army senior officers across the nation have risen to the enviable rank of Major-General in the Army”
He said the construction of the hospital ward was solely conceived by the Chief of Defence, accounts and budget, Major General Adekunle Adesope. 
In a remark, the project executor, Major-General Adekunle Adesope who is also a son of Kishi said the project became imperative as the people of the town were lacking some basic amenities in the health sector.
Major-General Adesope said the hospital would impact positively on the general well-being of Kishi people and also afford them the opportunity to access quality healthcare delivery services. 
Major-General Adesope said he dedicated the hospital to immortalising his late wife.
” The project is Sixty bedded facilities divided into wards for male, female, children, labour room,  reception area, doctor offices and Nurse station”


On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state who spoke through the Irepo Local Government Chairman, Mr Lateef Adediran, said the gesture was a great idea which would facilitate the development of Kishi and its environs. 
Governor Makinde pledged his continuous support to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies at ensuring a peaceful society. 
The Event was graced by the General Officer Commanding, GOC 2 division Nigerian Army Ibadan, senior officers in the military, traditional and religious leaders as well as indigenes of Kishi.

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Security

Training, Retraining Of Soldiers Will Help Counter Insecurity – Chief Of Army Staff

By Web News 1426

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya says training and retraining of soldiers will strengthen the physical and mental resolve to overcome security challenges facing the country. 

Lieutenant General Yahaya stated this at the flag off of the maiden edition of inter formations orienteering and adventure championship 2021 of the Nigerian Army held at the national park, Igbeti , Oyo State. 
General Yahaya who spoke through corps commander electrical and mechanical engineering,  major General Dickson Ehirobo  explained that the inter formations championship became imperative at giving the personnel the opportunity to gather more combat knowledge in facing security challenges in various operations accross the country. 

He noted that the Exercise would strengthen the fitness and perseverance of the personnel and enable them have the mental resolve to overcome the contemporary challenges in the country. 

The Chief of Army staff said he looked forward to a keen competition by participants at the championship with a view to ensuring the attainment  of the sportsmanship and improvement in combat efficiency. 

He added that the scope of the competition would promote esprit-de-corps in various capacities such as physical fitness,  map reading/navigation,  administration in the field as well as minor tactics. 

In an address of welcome,  General officer commanding, GOC, Major General Gold Chibuisi said the championship was aimed at Enhancing the operational readiness of troops under a competitive atmosphere would further reposition the Army for the professional defeat of all adversaries.

The participants were drawn from Army Headquaters Garrison, Abuja, 1 division, Kaduna, 2 Division, Ibadan,  3 division Jos, 6 division Portharcourt, 81 division Lagos, and 82 division Enugu. 

Rasheedah Makinde 

Security

Tap into Army veterans’ experiences to enhance national security – COAS

By Web News 1246

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya says the military is working towards a professional Nigerian Army that will accomplish its mission of defending the country. 

Lieutenant General Yahaya stated this at the 2021 Army Headquarters 4th quarter Seminar, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State. 

Lieutenant General Yahaya who spoke through Chief of Administration Army, Major General Usman Muhammed, said the workshop was aimed at providing a forum for officers to tap from the wealth of experience of veterans in support of operations aimed at ensuring national security. 

He noted that through the combined efforts of veterans, servicemen and the civil populace, the army can overcome the temporal security challenges in the country. 

Lieutenant General Yahaya, therefore, enjoined the participants to use the opportunity to rekindle their efforts at making use of the experiences acquired over the years. 

General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Major General Gold Ndubuisi said the participants were drawn from the southwest of the country in other to tap from their wealth of experiences at tackling insecurity bedevilling the nation. 

He noted that the workshop was designed to gather support from the veterans in addition to engendering national cohesion in the communities across the country. 

Major General Ndubuisi stated further that the workshop became imperative as a follow-up on the issues raised in the 2nd quarter edition of the veterans’ seminar on national security challenges. 

Declaring the 5-day workshop open, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said, the skill of the retired military officers needed to be harnessed to further enhance a solid and secured nation.

Governor Makinde represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Segun Ogunwuyi noted that the workshop was apt at the moment, considering the diversity of security challenges facing the country. 

The 5-day workshop with the theme “Harnessing Nigerian Army Veterans’ Influence to Enhance National Security and Cohesion” also had in attendance representatives of other security agencies. 

Rasheedah Makinde

Security

Chief of Army Staff Demands Professionalism from Soldiers

By Web News 1366

Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Farooq Yahaya has called on officers and men of the Nigerian Army to always be professional whenever they are discharging their responsibility. 

Lieutenant General Yahaya stated this during a working visit to Two Division Nigerian Army,  Adekunle Fajuyi cantonment,  Odogbo Barracks,  Oojo Ibadan.

He noted that the visit to the two Division became imperative to know the level of operation of the officers and how to do better in tackling security challenges. 

The Chief of Army staff stated further that the battle against insecurity bedeviling the nation is everybody’s responsibility hence the need for the military to partner sister agencies to wage war against it.

Lieutenant General Yahaya promised the continuous effort of the military to ensure that peace reign in the country. 

Rasheedat Makinde 

Security

Makinde Commiserates with Families of Fallen Soldiers

By Web News 542

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has described the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others, including Oyo State-born Flight Lieutenant Taiwo Asaniyi, as a huge loss to Nigeria.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, commiserates with the families of the deceased soldiers, praying to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the losses.

Governor Makinde equally condoled with the Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force, who all lost men to the air accident in Kaduna.

The governor described the death of Asaniyi as a personal loss to him and Oyo State, urging the family to take solace in the Almighty, while praying to God to console the family.

He said: “The deaths of Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others in a plane crash in Kaduna came as a rude shock. 

“The deaths are painful and a great loss to our nation at this time when concerted efforts are needed to tackle insecurity. 

“It is my prayer that God will console the families they all left behind.

“I particularly commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Armed Forces and especially the family of our brother, Flight Lieutenant Asaniyi, who is an indigene of Oyo State.

“Asaniyi’s passage to glory represents a personal loss to me and to the state, because he was one of the many professionals giving wings to Oyo State to fly to its premium place as a Pacesetter State.

“It is my prayer that God will console the families Asaniyi and others left behind and avert sad occurrences such as this.

“I also bid farewell to the gallant men who served their country in wars but lost their lives outside the battlefields.

“Adieu, great soldiers!”

Iyabo Adebisi

Security

Chief of Army Staff Killed in Plane Crash

By Web News 877

A military Beachcraft 350 aircraft has crashed at the Kaduna International Airport on Friday, claiming all eight souls onboard including the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

The ill-fated aircraft crashed at the airport’s runway about 6 pm.

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria, Akin Olateru, confirmed that the eight souls died onboard.

punchng.com

Security

In Pictures: President Buhari Decorates New Service Chiefs

By Web News 705
President Muhamadu Buhari decorating the new Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor. Photo: @NGRPresident
Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru being decorated by the president as Chief of Army Staff. Photo: @NGRPresident
Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo being decorated by the president as Chief of Naval Staff. Photo: @NGRPresident
Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao being decorated at Chief of the Air Staff, by the president. Photo: @NGRPresident
Security

Insecurity: Chief of Army Staff Calls for Optimism

By Web News 637

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has called on Nigerians to be hopeful that insecurity in the country will end.

General Buratai made the call while speaking with State House correspondents after he briefed President Buhari on the security situation in the country.

He said the army and other security agencies in the fight against insecurity had been doing their utmost to ensure peace, and appealed to Nigerians to give their support in containing the situation.

The Chief of Army Staff argued that Nigerians had a great role to play in ending the situation since a greater percentage of the criminals were Nigerians, whom their communities could expose. 

General Buratai acknowledged that there had been setbacks in the ongoing operations to contain the lingering insecurity situation, but that they should not be viewed as failure.

Bello

Security

Delta State is Critical to Nigeria’s Security – Gen. Buratai

By Web News 792

Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai says Delta State is strategic to the security architecture of the nation while stressing the need to collaborate with other security agencies to give the area complete protection.

General Buratai stated this in Asaba, where he led senior officers of the Nigerian Army to commission the Headquarters complex of the 63 Brigade built with the support of Delta State Government.

He commended the state government for the facility which he said was vital to the operations of the 6 Division of the Nigeria Army and the brigade area in general.

Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa in a remark stated that although the state is relatively peaceful there have been incidents of farmers/herders clashes in the past few weeks and expressed the hope that the commencement of operations of the brigade will help in addressing the security situation.

He added that other security issues such as kidnapping have reduced in the state, but noted a lot still needed to be achieved by security agencies to ensure an acceptable level of security on the state. 

Governor Okowa also commended the Army headquarters for signing the approval of the 81 Battalion in Agbor, which emphasised would assist in improving security in the area. 

Oghenero Eghweree