Army Chief Charges Troops After Niger Ambush: “Don’t Let Your Morale Dwindle”

Lt Gen Lagbaja reassured the troops that he would use all of his resources to ensure the best care for them and their families.

Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has urged the Nigerian Army’s soldiers to maintain their morale and fight to defend the country from terrorists and bandits who are now occupying some areas of it.

The COAS made this statement on Tuesday while visiting troops in Niger State after forces were ambushed by insurgents in the state’s general Zungeru region, in which some valiant Nigerian Army troops paid the ultimate price.

Additionally, on Monday in the state’s Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), a MI-171 helicopter of the Nigerian Air Force went down while transporting injured people.

The COAS was visiting Forward Operating Base Erena in the Shiroro region of the state, where General Officer Commanding 1 Division Maj Gen Bamidele Alabi gave him a briefing on the current security situation.

The COAS addressed the troops shortly after the briefing, urging them to unite and be more resolute in bringing the country’s enemies to their knees and restoring normalcy in tumultuous areas.

The Army’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said that the COAS reiterated that the war against militants and bandits is a just cause, for the protection of Nigerians and the country.

The most noble thing anyone can perform, he continued, is to protect lives and defend your country. As a result, you should maintain your enthusiasm because you are in the honourable profession of arms. The enemies of our people must be vanquished, and we must reclaim every square inch of our country where they have taken refuge.

Lt Gen Lagbaja gave the troops the reassurance that he would use all of his resources to provide the Nigerian Army personnel and their families with the best possible care.

He admitted that this is the most important of his Command Philosophy’s pillars. To improve their operational efficacy, he ordered the troops to be immediately reinforced with more combat enablers.