Two former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsami Abubakar, have expressed confidence in the Nigerian Army’ to defeat Boko Haram and bandits.

Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said the former leaders stated this when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, visited them separately on Monday in Minna.

Mr Babangida said he was confident in the army’s ability to stem the current security challenges.

He noted that the army had put up tremendous efforts to tackle the security challenges.

On his part, Mr Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the unrelenting drive of the COAS in confronting the threats at all fronts.

The statement added that Mr Yahaya assumed command when the nation was being confronted with multifaceted security challenges.

Mr Abubakar commended the COAS for engaging key stakeholders across the country in the search for public support and cooperation to enhance ongoing military operations effectively.

He further lauded the COAS for his pragmatic leadership and visiting military formations and theatres of operations to engage and motivate the troops.

He called on officers in junior leadership of the Nigerian army to emulate the exemplary leadership style and virtues of Mr Yahaya.

Also, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger called on the people of the state and other Nigerians to support the military and other security agencies in the ongoing anti-banditry and counter-insurgency operations across the country.

Mr Bello said the nation’s socio-economic development would be deficient if people were not secure.

He urged stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support and cooperate with the military and other security agencies in the fight against banditry and other security challenges in the country.

The governor assured the COAS of his government’s cooperation with the army to mitigate the scourge of insecurity in the state.

In his responses, the COAS said he was on a working visit to the state and Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army, for the Doctrinal Development Conference, aimed at reviewing army training and operational concepts.

He noted that the visit to the ex-leaders and the governor was to pay homage and interface with them in his effort to squarely address security challenges in Niger and the nation in general.

Mr Yahaya expressed optimism that the armed forces and other security agencies would overcome the current security challenges with the right support and cooperation from key stakeholders and the citizenry. 

(NAN)