The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged newly trained soldiers to take the fight decisively to bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements threatening Nigeria’s security.
The Army Chief gave the directive on Thursday at the graduation ceremony of recruits under the Restore Hope programme for the 90 Regular Recruit Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army Shooting Range in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Addressing the graduating recruits, Lieutenant General Shaibu said Nigeria was passing through a critical phase, with terrorists, bandits and kidnappers continuing to inflict hardship on citizens through violent attacks, abductions and the destruction of lives and property.
“The security challenges confronting Nigeria today are complex, uncertain and ambiguous. Terrorism, banditry and other asymmetric threats demand not only courage, but also intelligence, discipline and strategic thinking. The era of relying solely on conventional responses to unconventional threats is behind us,” he said.
He urged the recruits, who are due for induction into military service in two days, to remain professional, disciplined and resolute in confronting criminal elements while strictly adhering to the Rules of Engagement and military ethics.
The COAS congratulated the recruits on completing the specialised training programme and assured them that the Nigerian Army was acquiring modern combat equipment and additional operational capabilities to enhance effectiveness and improve troop safety in the field.
He noted that the Restore Hope initiative was designed to strengthen professionalism, resilience, discipline and loyalty among recruits while preparing them to tackle the country’s evolving security challenges.
Lieutenant General Shaibu reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to building a highly motivated and combat-ready force capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting citizens from emerging threats.
