COAS directs foreign defence attachés to interact and collaborate constantly

Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has urged the Defence Attachés of allies in Nigeria to work closely with the Nigerian Army to identify and address issues of shared interest.

When Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), led defence attachés from 27 nations for a meeting with the COAS on Thursday in Abuja, Lagbaja made the decision.

He thanked the attachés for making observations on pressing matters and promised to take the appropriate action to resolve some of the concerns brought up during the conversation.

Lagbaja gave assurance to the surrounding nations that the Nigerian army will continue to develop methods to stop the migration of criminals over international borders.

To prevent criminal elements and dissident groups from fostering their nefarious operations abroad and bringing them home to carry them out, “we look forward to fruitful interaction with all other countries.

“I look forward to further opportunities for interaction with all the DAs; we will make every effort to create additional social and sporting opportunities for us to connect and communicate.

“So that we may exchange knowledge and insights in order to advance the connection between the Nigerian Army and the numerous nations that you represent.

I want to assure you that the Nigerian army is willing to continue cooperating with the many nations you represent. Communication channels are open, he declared.

The engagement was the first of its type, according to the Chief of Defence Intelligence, and it allowed the attachés to share common ground while expressing their worries and difficulties.

According to Undiandeye, the DIA serves as a convent and a hub for communication and engagement with all of the nation’s defence attachés.

He stated that they would have the chance to talk about matters that concern them both personally and as a group during the meeting.

Col. Legha Romi, the Defence Attaché of India, spoke on behalf of the DAs and thanked the COAS for the unprecedented joint meeting.

He urged openness and contribution that was helpful during the meeting.

Over the years, the attachés had contacts with the DIA, Army, and other service headquarters, according to Romi, but the combined involvement was unique.

He claimed it was a chance for them to learn from one another for the good of both of their nations. (NAN)