Acting CoAS conducts operational tour in Sokoto, calls for local support
Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, visited Sokoto State on Sunday, November 10, 2024, for an operational tour in the 8 Division Area of Responsibility.
The tour, aimed at assessing the security landscape and supporting deployed troops, included stops at Forward Operations Base Tangaza and 248 Battalion in Illela.
Upon his arrival in Sokoto in the early hours, Gen. Oluyede proceeded directly to meet with troops and receive security briefings from the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose. During the briefing, Ajose provided updates on the ongoing security situation and outlined key operational challenges in the area.
Addressing troops stationed in Tangaza and Illela, Gen. Oluyede commended them for their unwavering dedication and sacrifices in combating terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria’s North West region. He emphasized the importance of his visit as an opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the security challenges faced by the forces.
The Army Chief pledged full support for the troops’ efforts, encouraging them to persist in their mission to curtail terrorist and insurgent activities in their areas of responsibility and across the North West zone. He urged the troops to avoid complacency and remain vigilant to achieve effective and sustainable progress in their operations.
In a meeting with the Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Honorable Bashir Salihu, as well as local traditional leaders and security agency representatives in Illela, Gen. Oluyede emphasized the need for collaboration. He called on local residents to actively support the troops by providing credible information, stressing that community involvement is crucial for effective security.
“The Nigerian Army is the people’s Army, and Nigeria belongs to all of us,” Gen. Oluyede stated. “Without the support of the locals, the Nigerian Army cannot succeed. We must work collectively to defend our country.”
