Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has called for a comprehensive reappraisal of the Nigerian Army’s strategies, in a bid to address the evolving security challenges in Nigeria’s North West region.
During the keynote address at a retreat organized for past and present commanders of operations in the North West, the COAS emphasized the need for innovative thinking and adaptive tactics to combat the activities of non-state actors, including banditry, kidnappings, and illegal mining.
The retreat aimed to review past and present performances, foster collaboration, and develop actionable recommendations to enhance operational success and ensure the security of the nation.
This retreat, held in Abuja on Monday, to review and build upon the operational successes in the region, aimed to develop new strategies to address the volatile and complex security situation.
“The North West has been plagued by activities of non-state actors, including banditry, kidnappings, cattle rustling, illegal mining, and violent attacks, which have significantly impacted the security environment.
“Despite continuous efforts by the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, these threats persist and extend beyond the North West, affecting the entire country.
“The retreat provides an opportunity for commanders to step away from their routine operations and engage in introspective reviews of their past and present performances.
“The goal is to stimulate new perspectives, foster creative thinking, and facilitate problem-solving.
“By bringing together past and present commanders, the retreat aims to cross-fertilize ideas and leverage their collective knowledge and experience”, Lagbaja stated.
The COAS emphasized the necessity of periodic reviews to understand the evolving threats in the North West, enabling seamless planning and execution of operations. This three-day retreat will involve brainstorming sessions to develop potent solutions to the region’s security challenges.
The retreat, themed “Reappraising the Nigerian Army’s Approach to Tackling Insecurity in the North West,” served as a forum for robust deliberations, analysis of lessons learned, and the development of implementable recommendations.
These recommendations will enhance Nigerian Army operations and foster collaboration with sister services, other security agencies, and stakeholders.
The Nigerian Army Resource Centre will document the lessons from the retreat into a compendium, serving as a reference for training and capacity development for troops and future commanders.
The retreat aimed to boost operational efficiency in line with the Nigerian Army Mission Statement: “To win all land battles in defense of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protect Her national interest, and accomplish other tasks in aid of civil authority.”
Lagbaja assured that this retreat is not a one-off event and that similar retreats will be held regularly to appraise security situations and ensure operational success.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces and emphasized the importance of securing Nigerians as a top priority.
The COAS commended the troops of the Nigerian Army for their perseverance, patriotism, and sacrifice, acknowledging those who paid the supreme price for the nation.
He assured their families that their sacrifices would not be in vain and wished all participants a fruitful deliberation for the benefit of the Nigerian Army and the nation.
