Army to boost fight against banditry with deployment of additional 5,937 soldiers – COAS

Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army of Staff (COAS), has announced that the 5,937 soldiers who recently graduated from the Depot will be redeployed to combat banditry, cattle rustling, and related offences.

Lagbaja disclosed this information during the passing out parade for the 86 regular recruit intake of the Depot Nigeria Army in Zaria on Saturday.

Lagbaja, Special Guest of Honor and Reviewing Officer for the passing out parade, added that the new men would form part of the solution to numerous security challenges bedeviling the country.

“The fresh products passing out today will form part of the solution to the challenge of insurgency in the north-east, banditry and cattle rustling in the north-west.

“They will fight the farmers/herders clashes in the north-central, secessionist agitation and cultism in the south-east, militancy and vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure in the south-south and south-west.”

The COAS noted that training was a continuous process in the military, adding that the Nigeria Army has put in place post-depot training packages to help the soldiers master the array of weapons and equipment.

This, according to him, will enable the soldiers become more efficient in the art of war.

He said that the army was improving on the existing welfare packages to enable the soldiers cater for their medical, recreational and educational needs to ease career fulfillment.

While congratulating the 5,937 recruits, the COAS said that the life of a soldier was a life of sacrifice to his country, allegiance to defend and, if need be, sacrifice his life for the people.

“Sacrifice to go wherever you are ordered to, by land, sea or air; sacrifice to relegate personal comfort and assume duty to country as a primary concern,’’ he said.

He said that by becoming a soldier, one had accepted the highest call to duty any Nigerian could take-up.

He added that as soldiers, they had joined the unique league of exceptional Nigerians who had elected to abide by the requirements of exceptional discipline, loyalty, integrity and dedication to duty.

Lagbaja, therefore, charged them not to disappoint the Nigeria Army and the country’s expectations on them.

He commended and congratulated the commandant and instructors of Depot NA for the successful training and graduation of the recruits.

The Army boss assured the commandant of the Army headquarters support towards realising the training objectives of the institution