To provide an opportunity for operational and tactical level commanders to step away from their normal routines in the field and theatres of operations, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja has declared open a 3-Day retreat for past and present commanders of the Nigerian Army operations in North West Nigeria, to review their past and present performances with a view to reinvigorating future operations.
Declaring the retreat open in Abuja, the Army Chief, ably represented by Chief of Operation (Army) Maj General Boniface Robert Sinjen noted that this operational retreat, as is the norm in the military, is to review all activities in the North West so as to build on the operational successes recorded so far and achieve the desired objectives.
Lt General Lagbaja noted that during the COAS' First Quarter Conference 2024, the idea of holding a retreat for past and present commanders in the North West was mooted. From the forgoing, the theme of the retreat, Reappraising the Nigerian Army's Approach to Tackling Insecurity in the North West, is quite apt.
He said the retreat should serve as a forum for robust deliberations which must involve analysing lessons learnt and developing implementable recommendations that would effectively influence Nigerian Army operations and foster collaborations with sister Services, other security agencies and various stakeholders.
"Surmounting insecurity in the North West region needs periodic review of the situation, which in turn will give us the opportunity to truly understand the generality and specifics for seamless planning and executing of operations."he said
General Lagbaja added the current security challenges the nation is facing are volatile, complex and fluid, and vary from one zone to another. The retreat will allow time for introspection, which will not only stimulate new perspectives and creative thinking, but also facilitate problem solving. It will also provide a veritable opportunity for reviewing our efforts at appropriate levels and boosting troops' morale.
"The presence of past and present commanders who have veritable opportunity for reviewing our efforts at appropriate levels and boosting troops' morale.
"The presence of past and present commanders who have served in the North West at this retreat is to cross fertilise ideas as each one of you is an embodiment of knowledge about the theme and area of focus.
"The retreat will also give impetus to operational efficiency in the pursuit of the pillars of Nigerian Army Mission Statement which is "To win all land battles in defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protect Her national interest and expected to articulate and chronicle the lessons that will be drawn from this retreat into a compendium to serve as reference material for training and capacity development for troops and future commanders at all levels."he said
General Lagbaja also stressed that the retreat will also give impetus to operational efficiency in the pursuit of the pillars of Nigerian Army Mission Statement which is "To win all land battles in defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protect Her national interest and accomplish other task in Aid of civil authority" and my Comd Philosophy which is "To transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within environment." a joint
He assured participants that this retreat will definitely not be a one-off event. The appropriate departments will be mandated to ensure it holds regularly for proper appraisal of the security situations for the attainment of operational success.
He urged participants to be open frank, talk freely and sincerely. He noted that the Nigerian Army Resource Centre is expected to articulate and chronicle the lessons that will be drawn from this retreat into a compendium to serve as reference material for training and capacity development for troops and future commanders at all levels
In the North West, the security situation is made complex by activities of non-state actors who engage in banditry, kidnappings, cattle rustling, illegal mining and violent attacks on innocent citizens, leading to destruction of lives, properties and means of livelihoods.
Activities of these non-state actors have continued to impact the security environment, not only in the North West zone, but by extension the entire country, despite the unrelenting efforts to curb the trend by the Nigerian Army, sister Services and other security and government departments and agencies.