Defend your weapon, be professional-82 Div GOC charges soldiers

Less than one week after the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Enugu State, Major-General Adamu Baba Abubakar visited the President Goodluck Jonathan Barracks, 14 Brigade Command Headquarters, Ohafia Abia State to bid the soldiers farewell and also used the opportunity to admonish them as it was the custom in the Nigerian Army, a new GOC, Emmanuel Kabuki has visited the Headquarters for a familiarization tour.

Kabuki who oversees army commands in the five southeastern states including 13Brigade, Cross River State during his visit round the commands under Ohafia assured states under his command of adequate security in the region throughout his stay in office.

Kabuki who stated this while addressing newsmen at the Umuahia Forward Operation Base (FOB) of 145 Battalion used the opportunity of the visit to call for professionalism among the soldiers while discharging their duties and warned the troops against violation of citizen’s Fundamental Human Rights.

The 82 Div GOC while reminding the troops on the need to be discipline and have respect for constituted authorities, also urged the soldiers to guard their arms jealously so as not to lose them to hoodlums who he said were always waiting for an opportunity to steal the soldiers’ weapon.

He warned the troops against the act of extortion of innocent motorists, stressing that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) frowns at such bad behaviour of soldiers which he stated that his administration would also not tolerate.

Announcing that Egwueke III would be holding this year, Kabuki used the opportunity to disclose that preparations have commenced towards ensuring a successful Operation Python Dance (Egwu Eke III) in the South Eastern States of Nigeria.

He urged the soldiers to be ever prepared for the exercise which he said should be carried out in line with the vision of the COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

“Egwu Eke so is not just an operation, it is a training activity for Nigerian Army on how to handle internal security challenges. If in conducting those training and there are situations that need to be addressed in order for south east to have the best security and peace that we are talking about, the troops will embark on that.

“The issue of preparation is common because training in the Nigerian Army is continues. It is not just only for Egwu Eke, we have what is called on the job training it is a daily activity in the various units and formations of the Nigerian army.

“But this time around, it is a focus training because it is an exercise that is at army level and we are the host. So we have to be prepared to make sure that we perform our responsibility consistent with the vision of the chief of army staff in other to achieve the set objectives for that exercise.”

Kabuk who took over the command from Maj. Gen. Adamu Baba Abubakar on the 6^th of August 2018 said that the vision of the Chief of Army Staff is to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional role where troops are expected to be professional in all they are doing, responsive and must ensure that whatever they are doing must be consistence with the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, I have to bring the troops to focus on what the vision of the chief of Army staff. In line with that vision, we shall give the south east the best security. It is only in a secure environment that economic activities can thrive. It is the only condition to ensure that law abiding Nigerians go about their activities undisturbed. Without security a society is nothing. So, the desire of the chief of army staff is for all parts of Nigeria to be secure, peaceful and suitable for law abiding Nigerians and we shall ensure that here.”