He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, September 12 during the COAS combined second and third quarter-conference.

“We have equally heightened our efforts in containing criminalities perpetrated in the South East Region by the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network. Through Operation Udoka, our troops have, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, put an end to the infamous sit-at-home order that has almost crippled socio-economic activities in the Region,” Lagbaja said.

He said “Law-abiding citizens of the region now go about their businesses and everyday life. Similarly, our joint efforts with various government agencies have quelled attempts by criminals to disrupt economic activities in the South West region.”

This, according to him, is to guide the conduct of his personnel as well as support civil authorities to conduct free and fair elections.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Chief of Army Staff Second Quarter conference on Tuesday, Yahaya also said he had directed the commencement of Operation Safe Conduct to enhance civil-military relation efforts during the elections.

He said, “We are mindful that elections are coming, that is why I directed the review of the rules of engagement and code of conducts for troops and personnel during the election. “It is usual for the military to review its rules of engagement and conduct of operations in tune with developing situations and that is what we are doing in other to ensure through our support to civil authorities, there is free and fair election.

We are already in Ekiti, the review would guide them in their operations and activities in support of civil authorities for the election. We, in the Army and the military remain apolitical, our role is to mainly provide support to civil authorities and other responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution.I have also directed the commencement of operation safe conduct. The review and the approved guidelines would be conveyed to you.

The Nigerian Army will continue to enhance its civil-military relations efforts and provide the necessary support in aid of the civil authority.”

He also warned all personnel to steer clear of politics during this period, while providing enabling and secured environment for electoral processes to thrive.

Yahaya, however, stated that the Nigerian Army remained resolute and committed to squarely confronting the myriad of security challenges bedevilling the nation.

Yahaya was promoted from the rank of Major-General to the rank of Lieutenant-General following the decoration.

Recall that Buhari earlier appointed Yahaya as the new COAS following the death of Ibrahim Attahiru in a plane crash in Kaduna on May 21, 2021.

The ceremony was held on Wednesday before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

In attendance are; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Sunday Adebayo; Director-General, Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

The event was also witnessed by members of the Cabinet as well as the Chairmen of Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Army.

Buhari, in a letter to the President of the Senate, urged the federal lawmakers to give his request, expeditiously.

Recall that the President had appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff on Thursday, 27, May 2021, to replaces Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in an air crash last Friday, alongside 10 other officers.

This was contained in a statement signed and released by the military spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu.

The statement reads, “Prior to his appointment Major-General Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East code-named Operation HADIN KAI.”

InsideOjudu also reported that Major General Faruk Yahaya had on Friday, 28, May 2021 resumed officially as the Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria.

InsideOjodu had reported on Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.

Yahaya was appointed to replaces Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in an air crash last Friday, alongside 10 officers.

Yahaya took over as the nation’s 22nd Chief of Army Staff during a ceremony held at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

On arrival, he first inspected the guard of honour at the sentry from where he proceeded to the conference room.

Before the commencement of the programme, he led others to observe a minute silence in honour of his late predecessor and 10 others who died in a plane crash last Friday.

Yahaya was appointed to replaces Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in an air crash last Friday, alongside 10 officers.

This was contained in a statement signed and released by the military spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu.

The statement reads, “Prior to his appointment Major-General Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East code-named Operation HADIN KAI.”

Attahiru stated this when the Senate Committee on Army, led by its Chairman, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume visited Army headquarters, Abuja as part of oversight functions.

“To curb and finally defeat these threats, the Nigerian Army requires equipment, weapons, armour fighting vehicles, platforms and various combat enablers,” he said.

Speaking on the current situation in the country, the COAS said, “As we all know, Nigeria is faced with a lot of security challenges that include insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and part of North Central as well as secessionist agitations in the South East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.

“I urge you to as a matter of urgency consider these critical needs as you legislate and appropriate funds. I will be counting on your support so that we can efficiently perform our constitutional roles and defeat all our threats.

“This courtesy visit is timely because it affords us the opportunity to interact and discuss issues that would impact on the funding of Nigerian Army activities and operations while also strengthening the cordial relationship between the National Assembly and Army Headquarters.”

In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume said that the army had a daunting task of mitigating the various security challenges confronting the country, adding that the National Assembly played an important in terms of giving the necessary legislative support to the Nigerian army.

While maintaining that there was no corpse during the protest at Lekki toll gate, Buratai stressed that those claiming protesters were killed were seeing double.

The Army chief made this known at the decoration of 39 newly promoted Major Generals on Friday in Abuja.

“I am glad that we held the Spiritual Warfare Seminar on Wednesday and most of the decorated Generals today are graduates of the Spiritual Warfare Seminar.

“I must say that the Spiritual Warfare Seminar we had last time, helped us during the last #EndSARS protest to the extent that there was no single corpse, but some persons were seeing double at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State,” Buratai said.

Several protesters demonstrating against bad governance were reported killed by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate.

Popular Nigerian Disc Jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, also known as DJ Switch, had alleged that soldiers shot and killed some of the people protesting at Lekki toll gate.

However, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army had maintained that soldiers drafted to the scene didn’t kill any protester.

The Army, however, admitted that soldiers were at the venue of the protest but did not kill anybody.

Buratai noted this, while stating that Nigerians generally misunderstand what insurgency and terrorism mean, hence the chances that terrorism will be over anytime soon is not certain.

Buratai made the remark on his verified Facebook handle few days after Boko Haram massacred rice farmers in Borno State.

Recall that over 40 rice farmers in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State were beheaded on Saturday, November 28.

“There is general misunderstanding of what insurgency and terrorism entail. There is likelihood of terrorism persisting in Nigeria for another 20 years.

“Citizens responsibility is equally important and imperative. All must cooperate to contain the lingering insecurity. Let there be collective action and responsibility,” Army boss said.