By Victor Akaa, Abuja
In continuation of his interactions with the retired senior military officers in the country, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor had visited Kaduna, North West, and Imo state in the South East parts of the country.
In a frank and no-holds consultation, General Irabor noted that the retired senior officers are the most qualified in the matrix of peace and security of the nation.
Acting Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko disclosed this on Thursday during a bi-weekly media briefing on the military and other security agencies operational engagement across the country from 16 – 29 July, 2021 of with journalists in Abuja.
Brigadier General Onyeuko said the CDS’ consultations with retired senior military officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the various geopolitical zones of the country was a way of leveraging on their experience and feel their pulse on the security challenges in their local communities.
According to him, the CDS told the retired personnel that having served and now living in the various communities, they are familiar with the misperception on the security challenges in the Country.
He encouraged the military veterans to see it as their responsibility to make stakeholders understand what is at stake in the quest for security, peace and unity of the Country.
He re-emphasized the dynamic synergy between the military and other security agencies to addressing the security challenges in the country and assured the people of Nigeria of adequate and improved security in the country.
Speaking further, the Acting Director noted that not fewer than 30 bandits were neutralised by troops in the course of operations in North West and North East zones within the period
According to him, over 70 kidnapped victims were rescued and 53 insurgents and criminals were arrested by the troops during operations in North West and North East zones of the country .
Brigadier General Onyeuko said, troops during the operations recovered a total of seven AK-47 rifles from the insurgents and bandits. Other items recovered by the troops include 223 rustled livestock, one general purpose machine gun , 50 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, a belt containing 296 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.
He said 12 assorted rifles, a truck load of stolen railway tracks and sleeper, two Dane guns and two locally fabricated rifles were recovered within the period under review.
He assured that troops had continued to maintain increased vigour and aggressive posture throughout all its operations in the various theatres.
