Buni Yadi (Yobe) – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Friday attended Christmas church service with troops of Operation Lafiya Dole at the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Bunu Yadi in Yobe.
Buratai, who was represented at the Military Chapel by the Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, commended them for their commitment and gallantry in the war against insurgency in the North East throughout the year.
Buratai said the year 2020 started on a promising note before the country went under strict lockdown restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in March.
He said the security challenges across the country necessitated an expansion of its counter insurgency operations and civil military coordination activities during the year.
According to him, the Nigerian Army was able to quickly adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions and develop capacities which kept its personnel engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the North East, while other theatres of operations continued to record steady successes even in the face of daunting challenges.
“In all these, I am deeply encouraged by the display of loyalty of our gallant troops and I commend you for your determined resilience towards defeating all identified threats to our national security.
“I urge you not to relent in your efforts and let me at this point pay tribute to our departed heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice in the service to our fatherland.
“For the families of the departed as well as to our injured personnel, I say you are not alone,” he said.
The COAS assured the troops that the Federal Government is ready to provide all necessary support to enable them carry out their constitutional roles.
He pledged his commitment to ensuring that training, capacity building and welfare of the personnel were accorded highest priority.
Buratai commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for their support to Nigerian Army to successfully discharge its constitutional roles.
He restated the commitment of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the defence of the territorial integrity of the country.
“Finally, I urge you to continue to demonstrate unalloyed loyalty to the President and to remain apolitical while ensuring the sustenance of democracy.
“Once again, I thank you all for your service this year and I commend you for a job well-done.
“As we celebrate the Christmas and New Year, we must be mindful of the rising cases of the COVID-19.
“I therefore enjoin you to continue to observe strictly the NCDC protocols on COVID-19 during the season,” he said.
The Chaplain, Lt. Ladanson Dahiru, in his sermon, said that Christmas was to be a period of sober reflection on the love of God towards mankind.
He said there was need to appreciate God for his gift to humanity by showing love towards one another.
Reading from the book of Luke 2:1-10, the Chaplain said that Christmas should also be a season of reconciliation, adding that the birth of Jesus Christ reconciled man back to God.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buratai treated the troops to Christmas luncheon in his tradition to always celebrate festive seasons with troops at the battle front.
Meanwhile, The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar, took lunch on Friday with troops of Air Task Force of ” Operation Lafiya Dole” in Maiduguri to celebrate Christmas.
Speaking at the occasion, Abubakar said that the gesture was to fill the vacuum created as a result of troops inability to celebrate with their families.
“This occasion also fosters comradeship and gives us the opportunities to commend ourselves for our collective efforts in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
“It is not easy to quantify your enormous contributions and sacrifice towards the war against insurgency.
“Christmas celebration is all about sacrifice. As such as military professionals, our sacrifices for the unity of Nigeria remains immeasurable.
“We are all aware of the enormous responsibility we bear in ensuring the indivisibility of our dear country,” Abubakar said.
He urged the troops to remain vigilant and focused, reiterating his commitment to reposition the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for effective, efficient and timely deployment of air power in response to national security challenges.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for providing NAF with needed resources to perform its assigned duties.
“I want to use this occassion to appreciate the support of members of the National Assembly committees on the NAF.
“I want to assure you that all approved resources have been judiciously utilised, ” he said.
In his address, the Air Task Force Commander, Air Commodore Abubakar Abdulkadir, who described the lunch as one of the many gestures of the Air Force chief in raising the moral and spirit of troops in the front line, assured the troops of commitment to assigned tasks.
“Your presence here to felicitate us in spite of your tight schedule demonstrates your continued commitment to the welfare and well-being of troops of the Air Task Force,” Abdulkadir said.
In his remarks on behalf of Borno Government, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, lauded the effective role of the NAF and other security agencies in bringing peace to the state and assured the government of commitment to work with them for lasting peace in the state.
