XRAYING THE WORDS OF THE SERVICE CHIEFS AND THE FUTURE OF SECURITY IN NIGERIA (Episode One)
By OOA (securednaija)
The scripture says, as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is. A person’s thought reflects on a person’s speech, actions and even appearance. Then, a powerful speech is power which could be used to persuade, to convert and to compel. So, the content of a speech is a reflection of the deliverer. While speech does not mean an assurance of action or performance, a well thought out speech, by a known performer could or will be given life which will bring result. The scripture also says, ”so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” That is the Word of God. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the treasure of his heart, brings forth good things,…….
The above biblical incantations are quoted to authenticate the reflections of the reality inbuilt in the words of the newly appointed service chiefs since their appointment as the renewed hope generals that would evacuate Nigerians from the shackles of insecurity. One very important observation about these generals is that they speak less but their words are backed up with lots of actions. Less than 3 weeks of their appointment, the levels of arrests of men of the underworld by troops have been commendable. Before a detailed look into troops performance in recent times, the first task is to xray their hope packed utterances.
While being screened on Monday 17 July by the House ad-Hoc committee on screening. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) will apply the lens of people-centricity to key components of activities to truly put the Nigerian people at the centre of its actions geared towards promoting and safeguarding a secured environment for all. According to him, “In this regard, the AFN under my leadership will be people-centric by prioritizing and safeguarding our people and their legitimate way of life as prescribed by the Nigerian Constitution.”
A deep utterance from a sincere heart we say. General CG Musa is known as a man that has human compassion, hence, saying the AFN under his watch shall be people centric does not come as a surprise. People centric? This could mean, whatever will make Nigerians happy will be the priority of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The safety of Nigerians shall be the priority of AFN. It could further mean that, instead of Nigerians to be pained by insecurity, members of the armed forces will not relent, will sweat more and bleed less to make Nigerians refreshed in the era of renewed hope. It also means that, the rules of engagement will be strictly followed while the fundamental human rights of all Nigerians shall be adequately respected. These are some of the salient and silent points of the CDS’s speech at the recent screening.
While advocating high level of commitment by the men of the Armed Forces, being a General that has achieved war accomplishments through unique welfare packages for troops, he recognises the importance and significance of an highly motivated soldier in the frontline and to achieve a people centric Armed Forces. Hence, he said, “troops’ welfare and sound administration will provide the required atmosphere for the AFN to deliver on its constitutional responsibilities. Thus, the AFN will continue to seek ways and means to improve the welfare of its personnel under my watch”.
This could further be broken down as providing realistic and adequate training for troops to get them ready for existing and anticipated future challenges that could confront the Nigerian Nation. Analysing further, Gen Musa is poised to change the approach to welfare packages of troops. In his words, “In this regard, service men and women of the AFN should be reassured of my commitment to their welfare, provision of relevant operational equipment as well as infrastructural development within available resources to enable them to succeed in assigned constitutional roles”.
We gathered that Gen Musa has developed and practiced some welfare templates at his levels as Commandant Depot and Theatre Commander Operation Hadin Kai which has been adopted in the Nigerian Army. Hence, he knows where it pains and also understands the volume of work ahead.
According to him, “I recognize the significance of leading thousands of devoted and distinguished service men and women to provide a secured and peaceful environment for the Nigerian people to freely engage in their legitimate enterprise in line with the constitutional mandate of the AFN. Speaking further, he said that the AFN will defend the country’s territorial integrity and democracy as well as safeguard internal security and unity to achieve the stability required to guarantee sustainable national development.
“I shall also promote international military cooperation/ collaboration to further expose and provide capacity building to AFN personnel in joint and combined operations outside the shores of Nigeria. This measure is required to consolidate AFN welfare priorities in order to effectively deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt and sustained land, sea and air dominance by the AFN across traditional as well as asymmetric conflict settings as part of a joint force,” he said.
The Nation is set towards a renewed focus on our national security considering the calibre of generals at the top of affairs. And this is not far-fetched, with the recent wins and arrests by the Nation’s heroes, the Nigerian Armed Forces is ready , being motivated by unique set of leaders.
It could be recalled that within less than one month of taking over command of the Nigerian Armed Forces, there have been more success stories than negative.
SOME RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER GEN CG MUSA’s JOINT APPROACH TO TACKLING SECURITY CHALLENGES
Troops of 63 Bde Garrison under the auspices of 6 Division, Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services recently destroyed an enclave of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) at Asaba, Delta State on Saturday 22 July 2023. In a raid operation on the fortified enclave located in the middle of a forested High ground in the early hours of the day, the gallant troops overpowered the IPOB fighters in the exchange of fire that followed the encounter, compelling them to abandon their hideout in disarray. The troops captured one of the fleeing fighters and recovered five AK 47 Rifles, three Pump Action Semi Automatic Rifles, one G3 Rifle and one single barrel gun. Other items recovered, include Live Cartridges, Electric Saw, Machetes, an Axe and IPOB flag. The troops have destroyed the enclave and are exploiting the forest in pursuit of the fleeing fighters.
The Nigerian Navy also recently deactivated a boat laden with suspected stolen crude in Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria. It also said that troops of the Navy Ship SOROH (NNS SOROH) recovered two AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. It took the intervention of troops of the NNS SOROH, during a water patrol at the Gbaram community of Agbadam-Foropa, to safe the nation of this economic sabotage. The troops overpowered the armed men in a shootout that ensued, making them flee.
A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft has destroyed an illegal refinery at Dariama Village, in Abonnema, South West Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The illicit refinery also ‘housed’ dozen tanks and reservoirs which store stolen crude oil for criminals. Air Component of Operation Delta Safe during its sustained onslaughts against crude oil thieves, took out the illegal oil refining site situated at Dariama Village, a locality about 20 Kilometers South west of Abonnema and 50 Kilometers South west of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Troops of the 192 Battalion Nigerian Army operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility recently also intercepted an international smuggling syndicate while transporting a truckload of smuggled ammunition to Anambra State, Nigeria’s south-east. The ammunition being smuggled include 720 packets of red star cartridges of 12 calibres which contained 25 cartridges per packet, totalling 18,000 cartridges, 250 packets of live black cartridges containing ten packets each and totalling 2500 cartridges of the same calibre. It took the intervention of this renewed hope troops to stop the syndicate from smuggling the illegal weapons into the South-east state, which the suspects could have used to unleash terror on residents of the region if they had succeeded.
The above are few examples of the recent wins by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Secured Naija looks ahead to a greater future. Thank you to the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chefs under his command.
OOA WRITES FROM LAGOS
WATCH OUT FOR EPISODE 2 FOCUSED ON COAS, MAJ GEN TA LAGBAJA