In their timely and swift response to distress calls, the combined Troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in conjunction with Nigerian police in Zamfara state have again rescued 4 kidnapped students of the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) who were abducted by terrorists at the dark hours on Saturday 14 October 2023 from their off campus residence at Sabon Gida under Damba area of Gusau LGA in Zamfara state.
This was achieved as the troops responded swiftly to distress call on the kidnapped students by terrorists. Troops immediately mobilized and formed blocking position at a possible withdrawal route which led to heavy gun duel with the terrorists. Troops superiority forced the terrorists to abandon the victims and fled. During the encounter with the terrorists around 12 am, 2 of the students were able to escape while other 2 students a male and female were safely rescued by the troops.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Toareed Lagbaja has charged troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) to go after economic saboteurs and ensure they are completely stamped out. He gave the charge today Friday 13 April 2023 in Port Harcourt, while addressing troops during his maiden working tour to 6 Division Area of Responsibility.
General Lagbaja reiterated that the main focus of the Federal Government is economic recovery, security and infrastructural development. The nation, he said cannot experience meaningful economic recovery without having a firm grip of the oil industry, stressing that troops are critical to securing the nation’s oil industry. He further charged them to be loyal, disciplined and committed to their constitutional responsibilities.
“Your loyalty, first is to the Constitution and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ” he asserted.
He used the platform to admonish troops not to violate the codes of conduct guiding the execution of their operations to ensure the safety and security of the society. He emphasized, that he wants to continually receive positive feedback about troops of 6 Division throughout the period of Exercise STILL WATERS III.
During the visit, General Lagbaja commissioned landmark projects, as well as critical operational platforms needed to rejig amphibious operations in the Niger Delta region. He stated that the set of 10 Gunboats procured is the first wave, as efforts are ongoing to acquire more platforms that will improve the operational capability of the NA in the riverine domain.
The COAS later visited 6 Division Step Up Headquarters at Ahoada, where he stressed the importance of inter agency collaboration. ” We brought you here together with the personnel of other security agencies, so that you can work together in a multi agency environment, essentially to consolidate on existing interagency cooperation. You must work together, you must work as comrades” he averred.
Earlier at Ahoada, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam appreciated the COAS for the strategic, moral and financial support to the Division. He clarified, that Exercise STILL WATERS III will provide an opportunity for commanders and operatives, to carry out effective operational planning, logistics preparation and conduct of Military Operations Other than War (MOOW), as well as tactical amphibious operations. He added, that it will also focus on the conduct of civil-military activities geared towards winning the hearts and minds of the local populace.
Highlight of the visit was the flag off of Exercise STILL WATERS III in Rivers state, courtesy call on the Governor of Rivers State, Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, commissioning of several projects, including 10 Gunboats, remodeled 6 Division Headquarters Complex reception, twin Regimental Sergeant Majors quarters, Ordnance tailoring factory, remodeled Corpers’ Lodge and new office complex to accommodate the Headquarters 26 Support Engineer Regiment amongst others.
