By
Dauda Iliya
President Bola Tinubu has assured that necessary measures will be taken to avert the reoccurrence of recent tragic incident in Tudun Biri community of Kaduna state.
The President gave the assurance at the 2023 Chief of Army Staff annual Conference at Command Guest House in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The Chief of Army Staff annual conference, which is the first under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, begun with observing a minute silence in honour of innocent civilians who lost their lives as a result of the mistaken drone attack in Kaduna state.
The President described the incident as painful and promised to investigate the matter to prevent future occurrence.
He however commended the doggedness and resilience of the armed forces in protecting the nation’s territorial integrity as well as talking emerging security challenges.
“I wish we could somehow take this all back and erase the undone but we cannot, it has happened. What we can and will do is to give ourselves the victory over the terrorists, is the best gift. Money, compensation, whatever is necessary we will do it but it doesn’t replace the loved ones lost” Tinubu said.
President Bola Tinubu promised to improve on the welfare of troops prosecuting the war on terrorism, banditry and other sundry crimes, noting that modern equipment will be procured and deployed to theaters of operation.
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar lauded the President for approving all the critical needs of the armed forces to enhance their operations.
He assured that the insecurity bedeviling the county will end in the nearest future.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army has escalate its operations across the country, thereby weakening the criminal elements.
He emphasized that training and other welfare needs of troops would be enhanced to bolster their operational capabilities.
“this year’s annual Conference aligns with Mr. President directive to address all security challenges facing the country decisively ” Lagbaja said.
General Lagbaja announced that the President has approved over eighteen billion naira for the payment of backlog of life assurance claims for families of deceased personnel.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum appealed to the President to establish military bases in Sambisa forest, Mandara mountain and the Lake Chad to secure the areas.
The President then performed the groundbreaking ceremony of headquarters 7 Division Nigerian Army and also inaugurated 107 electric vehicles purchased by the Borno state government.
Correspondent Dauda Iliya reports that the Conference has as its theme: Personnel Motivation for Effective Operational Performance in a Joint Environment.
