New Chief Of Defence Staff, Other Service Chiefs Storm Borno, And…

The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Major General Lucky Irabor has led other newly appointed Service Chiefs to their first operational visit to the Theatre Command of the Counter-terrorism in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The CDS was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao and the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.

The team was received by Major General Farouq Yahaya, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Abdul Khalifa, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and other principal staff officers of the Military Command and Control Centre at the Headquarters of the Air Task Force.

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The Service Chiefs who were briefed by commanders on recent operations in the theatre, also paid a visit to the state Governor, Babagana Zulum, the security Chiefs also met with the former governor, Senator Kashim Shettima.

L-R: Chief Of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral AZ Gambo, Chief Of Defence Staff, Major Gen. Leo Irabor, Gov Zulum, Chief Of Army Staff, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief Of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao and Senator Shettima.

While addressing the service chiefs, Governor Zulum called for aggressive collaboration with armed forces in neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.

Zulum also sought enhanced ties between the military and civilian population to bridge trust deficit and increase military’s access to credible intelligence gathering which he said, was key to success in the fight against terrorism.

The Governor assured the military chiefs of his administration’s commitment and support to the armed forces by way of supplementing their efforts in the ongoing war.

Zulum also urged the Service Chiefs to tolerate fair and constructive criticisms that might be made in good faith to enhance their productivity.

“In democratic settings, the military is an establishment which is subject to constructive criticisms by well-meaning citizens.

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Therefore, you are expected to accept such criticisms in good faith with a view to enhancing the productivity in your operations” Zulum said.

Governor Zulum stated that, for the Nigerian military to achieve success, there should be good coordination and collaboration between different security operatives, particularly between the Nigerian Army and Airforce.

The Governor also called on the military to ensure a continued and sustained operations to deny insurgents breathing space by blocking all routes to avoid terrorist moving from one region to another.

Leading the delegation, Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Leo Irabor assured that military operations will receive a boost in order to totally remove the insurgents. He, however, craved the understanding of the civilian population in the fight against terrorism.