Lagbaja in Niger, Orders Reinforcement, Decisive Action

•Abubakar: Resolve to contain insurgency unshaken 

•Condemns propaganda video of crash site by terrorists

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, yesterday, ordered troops to take more decisive action against insurgents in the country just as the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, said the determination of the Armed Forces to contain terrorism remained unshaken.

 This came as the air force condemned viral video of the crash site of the air force plane that crashed in Niger State, during an evacuation operation, which it said was circulated by terrorists and their sympathisers.

A statement issued by Nigerian Army Headquarters, said, “Following troops’ encounter with insurgents in  Zungeru general area of Niger State, in which gallant troops of the Nigerian Army  paid the supreme price in defence of our dear country, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Nigerian Army, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, arrived Mina, Niger state capital, late night Tuesday 15 August 2023.”

The statement added that he “immediately  moved to Forward Operating Base Erena in Shiroro LGA of Niger State, where he was briefed on the current security situation by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj Gen Bamidele Alabi.”

Addressing the troops soon after the brief, the COAS urged them to rally together and be more resolute in bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restore sanity in troubled areas, adding that the fight against insurgents and bandits was a just cause in defence of Nigerians and the nation.

“Protecting lives and defending your nation are the noblest service anyone can offer. You are therefore in the noble profession of arms and must not allow your morale to dwindle. We must defeat the adversaries of our people and take back every inch of space where they are hibernating in our land,” he said.

The statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said Lagbaja assured the troops that he would do all within available resources to give Nigerian Army personnel and their families the best in terms of welfare.

Disclosing that this was topmost in the pillars of his command philosophy, he directed the immediate reinforcement of the troops with additional combat enablers to enhance their operational effectiveness.

However, Abubakar, on his part, has said the determination of the Armed Forces to contain terrorism remained unshaken.

A statement issued by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, also condemned a viral video of the crash site of the air force plane that crashed in Niger State, during an evacuation operation, which it said was circulated by terrorists and their sympathisers.

It said the Nigerian Air Force would not give in to terrorist propaganda.

“The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has been drawn to a video circulating on social media platforms allegedly depicting the wreckage of the crashed MI-171 helicopter with bodies of victims at Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

“While it is not in the character of the NAF to respond to such claims, particularly one peddled by terrorists, concerns expressed by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to address the propaganda becomes imperative,” it said.

It stated further that like all military organisations involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps and crashes were sometimes inevitable.

“For the NAF, the last eight years, has seen an increased level of air operations in efforts at checkmating the nefarious activities of terrorists and criminal elements in the country.

“With heightened levels of air operations, occasioned by an enhanced fleet, the likelihood of air mishaps and accidents at times become unavoidable and inevitable due to various reasons.

“Indeed, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar said this much when he hosted Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State, yesterday, 15 August 2023, at his office where he noted that the rates of aircraft accidents/incidences are directly proportional to the heightened level of air operations,” it said.

The statement maintained that, “while the NAF regrets such unfortunate incidents, especially as they involve the loss of lives of our colleagues, the service will never shy away from unravelling the probable cause of the crash with a view to drawing lessons.

“For those aiding and abetting the propaganda tendencies of terrorists, deliberately or inadvertently, by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel, the need to rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops, families of deceased personnel as well as on Nigeria’s national security is imperative.”