Dead officers looking for solutions to Boko Haram, says THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika,

Dead officers looking for solutions to Boko Haram, says 

THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika,

 

THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday declared that the three military officers who died in the ill-fated DANA Air aircraft were on their way to Ibadan, Oyo State, to meet with their colleagues on the way out of the Boko Haram’s terrorism.

Ihejirika spoke in Ibadan while kicking off a workshop entitled “Enhancing the Capacity of Unit Commanders to Meet Contemporary Challenges in the Nigerian Army” at the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army.

The Chief of Army Staff, who promised to honour the three military officers, stressed that they died in active service. A minute silence was later observed in honour of the departed souls.

The officers, who were among the 153 killed in the crash, were Lt.-Col. Chumbo Ochigbo, Lt. Yusuff Ibrahim and Maj. I.G. Mohammed.

According to Ihejirika, “as at Sunday, I contemplated calling off this workshop. But, doing so would not be a tribute to the officers who died in the course of their duty and national assignment. I, therefore, urge you discussants to re-double your efforts to ensure the officers do not die in vain.”

He continued: “The purpose of this workshop is to assist the commanding officers to share ideas leading to decisions on tackling the contemporary challenges. Unfortunately, some of the officers who were on their way to this workshop died in the crash. The officers died in the course of their duty to their fatherland. The Nigerian Army will ensure that their efforts do not go in vain. We shall ensure prompt payment of their entitlements and take care of their families left behind.”

Ihejirika admitted that the country was facing a series of security challenges, including oil theft, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, the most worrisome being the Boko Haram insurgence. “The responsibility of discipline, regimentation, professionalism and proficiency in the units rests squarely on you the commanding officers,” he said.

In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. M.D. Abubakar, said that “the workshop is in furtherance of the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, which is to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to meet contemporary challenges.”

He said that Nigeria being the giant of Africa “is undergoing a series of security challenges with innocent souls dying, leading to economic rot.”