Army Deputy Director, Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said in a statement issued on Wednesday in Enugu that the GOC was in 13 Brigade Calabar on the 17 January 20 17, where, together with his team of Commanders and Staff Officers were briefed on the operational state and readiness of the Brigade.
Musa said that the GOC inspected some combat equipment, military kits and ongoing barrack accommodation for soldiers in the Brigade, adding: “He used the opportunity to interact with officers and soldiers of the Formation and charged them to uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army in the discharge of their onerous responsibilities.
“Some of the Core Values are – integrity, selflessness, honesty and commitment. Others are honour, duty, patriotism and respect for others.”
Col. Musa quoted Gen Abubakar as stating: “The Nigerian Army under the Present leadership will not tolerate any act of professional misconduct from anyone of you. As workers in a voluntary organisation, we must have to imbibe and fully put into practice the NA core values of integrity, honesty, belief and commitment to the course and respect for others.”
Continuing, the Army Deputy Spokesman said: “He used the opportunity (while in 13 Brigade Calabar) to call on the Brigade and other security agencies to continue to device other means of proactively addressing the recurrent security challenge of inter communal violence and/or state boundary disputes in their Area of Operations.
“He commended the soldiers for their timely intervention in the recent boundary crisis between Oku Iboku Community of Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Offiong Community of Cross River State.
“He used the interactive forum with officers and soldiers to dispel rumour as reported by an online media that two soldiers lost their lives during the crisis.
“ ‘To the best of my knowledge no soldier of the Brigade was killed or wounded in their peace enforcement efforts before, during or after the crisis. Such report is distractive and should be discountenanced,’ he said.
“From 13 Brigade, the GOC and his team proceeded to 14 Brigade Ohafia and the Nigerian Army Language Institute at Ovim in Bende and Isuikwuato Local govt areas of Abia State. In all these places, General Abubakar reiterated the commitment of the NA to containing peculiar security challenges across the Division and the nation.
“He said: ‘There are still occasional cases of kidnappings, Farmers – herdsmen clashes and communal crisis in your Area of Responsibility, We must redouble our efforts to effectively checkmate these challenges.’
“He urged troops to remain focussed and steadfast in the service of the nation, warning that “any infraction of human rights, partisanship and complacency under any guise will never be encouraged, condoned or tolerated. ‘Wherever we notice such transgressions we will appropriately apply sanctions,’ Gen. Abubakar further stated.
“He commended the troops for their sacrifices to the nation and urged them to do more.
“One major highlight of the visit was the holistic appraisal of operational matters and challenges in all the Units and Formations that were visited. Consequently, where required, solutions, guidance and direction were/was given with the view to smoothens and enhances the operational effectiveness of the affected Units and Formations.”
