CDS to Acting COAS: Justify Confidence Reposed in You By Tinubu

*Niger Assembly refutes military claim, alleges bandits holding captives on Army training ground

Chuks Okocha and Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, yesterday implored the newly appointed Acting Chief of Army Satff (COAS), Major General Olufemi Oluyede, to ensure that he justified the confidence reposed on him by the President Bola Tinubu.
This was as the Niger State House of Assembly yesterday through the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, refuted military claims that nobody was held captive by bandits on military ground, alleging that bandits held captives on military ground in the state.
Gen. Musa also directed the Acting COAS to sustain the high level of professionalism, discipline, resilience, and regimentation that the Nigerian Army is known for all over the world.
The CDS gave this directive when the Acting COAS, Major General Oluyede officially assumed duty at Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja yesterday.
Musa said that by this appointment, the responsibilities of administering the Nigerian Army now rest on him, stating that, “your responsibilities are wide and varied, and cannot be covered in this administrative note.”
According to him, “It is expected that at the end of this formal event, you will be briefed extensively by the Chief of Policy and Plans Army and other Prince Rostral Reserves of the Army according to the course of your duties. Accordingly, you have to note that your installation was based on your vast knowledge of military leadership at all levels, character and competence.
“You are a member of a larger team of professional soldiers who are saddled with the responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea, and air, as captured in our constitution.”
Musa noted that though this was the first time in the history of Nigerian Army that Acting Chief of Army Staff was appointed by the President, the action he added was in line with legal instruments governing the appointment of service chiefs in the country.
Speaking during the brief but colourful taking over of Command of the Nigerian Army, in Acting capacity, Major General Oluyede, appreciated the President for finding him worthy to discharge the responsibility as the Acting COAS in this particular, peculiar and sober situation.
“My appointment as the Acting Chief of Army Staff, he said is simply to hold sway while Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja is away, to enable him take sufficient time to get the necessary medical attention.”
He pledged loyalty to the President and Constitution of Nigeria.
He said: “I request that we all continue to pray for Gen. Lagbaja’s quick recovery and safe return to complete the excellent job that he had started.
“Furthermore, I seek everyone’s support and cooperation so that we can succeed together in extinguishing all forms of insecurity in this country and return this our beautiful country to peace and economic prosperity.”
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, who also represents Mariga Constituency, Hon. Sarkin-Daji, revealed yesterday that no fewer than 20 passengers in five vehicles were kidnapped on Mariga-Kontagora Road in Niger State.

He said the incident happened on Thursday when bandits blocked Mariga-Kontagora Road between Baban-Lamba and Beri.

The Speaker was reacting to the military refutal that bandits were not on its training ground in Kontagora LGA of the state which also extends to Mariga LGA.

Sarkin-Daji said families of the victims previously kidnapped had taken ransom to bandits several times in the forest which was part of the military ground.

He said the victims, who were released after the ransom payments also told their families that they were kept in a forest not far from the Kontagora Army Barracks.

The Speaker said the passengers that were kidnapped on Thursday on Mariga-Kontagora Road were also moved to the same forest, calling on the military to get the right information and flush out the bandits from the forest.

“As members representing our people, we get feedback from our constituents of their plights. So, before we present anything on the floor of the House, we have done our investigation very well.

“It is not as if we are underrating the military capacity to fight bandits and terrorists but it is not right to just dismiss the complaints of our people. We want the federal government and concerned authorities to know their plights.

“The communities said the military training ground had become a safe haven for bandits who always come out of that forest to attack them, kidnap people and take them to the same forest. Even the kidnapped victims that were released after the payment of ransom said they were taken to the same bush and they could sight the Kontagora Army Barrack from where they were kept by the bandits.

“What we expect from the military was to seek more information about what victims have told us and flush the bandits out. But you cannot just come out to refute what a member of House of Assembly had said.

“Let me tell you, as military refuted what one of our members said Wednesday, on Thursday, October 31, bandits blocked the road between Baban-Lamba and Beri and kidnapped all passengers in five vehicles. More than 20 passengers were kidnapped and taken to the same forest. From Kontagora to Beri is a vast land belonging to Army Barracks Kontagora.

“So, refuting the complaint of people is not right. The military should do the needful and flush out these criminals. The military is made to protect the people. So, we will continue to speak out to let the federal government and all stakeholders know the plight of our people,” the Speaker said.