May 29: Army warns against plans to truncate democracy

The Nigerian Army has warned against any threats to democracy and national sovereignty as the country prepares to handover government May 29.

The army’s warning comes after the Department of State Services (DSS) said it has identified some key players in a plot for an interim government designed to stop the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, said it will resist any attempt by any violent group. He gave this warning on Monday at the ongoing 3rd quarter Chief of Army Staff conference in Abuja.

The Army chief boasted that Nigeria attained its best record against terrorism since 2011 in 2022

According to him, the past 11 years, from 2011 to date, Nigeria recorded its highest rating against terrorism last year, 2022. “This is indeed a commendable effort and achievement by all of you, the other sister Services, stakeholders and indeed our able predecessors,” he said.

Yahaya said the injection of modern equipment and specially trained troops has been rewarding in the fight against terrorism and other criminal elements.

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“The insurgents and terrorists no longer have freedom of action and that has amongst other benefits resulted in massive surrender by the adversaries. These efforts expectedly have enhanced troop poise and greatly improved the security situation and public confidence in the North East”, he said.

“In terms of equipment procurement, in this quarter, the Nigerian Army has procured and inducted assorted modern military platforms into the various theatres of operation as force multipliers. The deployment of these platforms has significantly bolstered troops’ fighting spirit and enhanced our performance across all theatres of operation”, he added.

He, therefore, charged field commanders to adequate maintenance of the acquired platforms and sufficient training of troops to operate the modern equipment.

He said the Nigerian Army efforts in Operation Hadin Kai in synergy with the sister Services and other security agencies have significantly curtailed terrorism and insurgency that hitherto bedevilled the North East part of the country.