The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Farouk Yahaya has said that an enabling environment has been created by the Army and other security agencies to conduct a free and fair 2023 general election in the country. According to him, the troops are already prepared with other security agencies to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct a seamless forthcoming elections in the six geopolitical zones. Yahaya gave the assurances, at the weekend (Friday), while addressing troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Norteast at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. “The Army assures our citizens to experience a hitch-free 2024 polls,” he said. He, therefore, urged the troops not to relent, but scale up the counter-terrorism operations to restore peace in the Northeast. “This is yet another task ahead of you,” he said, adding that the Nigerian Army has a role to play by ensuring that democratic exercises are conducted in a secured environment without any hitches across the country.
“Elections are here, and when they come they are with their odds and challenges,’ he earned.
Continued; “We also have experienced many elections, and we have been covering elections since 1999
“Therefore, we are to leverage our experience by dusting up contingency plans for flash points and possible areas of threats that claimed many lives and property.”
He called on the troops to rehearse drills, and especially liaise and cooperate with other security agencies that provide support in the joint military operations I’m Dambisa Forest and the Lake Chad region.
Besides, he added that the army has also inaugurated some operations like “Operation Still Water”, and Operation Golden Dawn” amongst others, that are targeted at checking criminal activities associated with the yuletide periods.”
“One of the objectives is to set the conditions for free elections,” he declared.
Securing the country for the elections, he said: “Our exercises and operations are intelligence driven so that they can address unique stay-clear security challenges where they are launched,” stating that they can provide a secure environment that will suit the February and March, 2023 general elections.
The COAS, therefore, ordered that; “All units and formations of the Nigerian army have contingency plans for the provision of security, particularly for the coming elections.
“We should as mandated by our profession, always appraise them, review them and continue to be alert so that we can evaluate our plans and activate them when necessary to support the civil authority by the provision of security for our people.”
He also commended the troops in the front lines of forest and Lake Chad region for the improved security. He noted that there is still more work to be done, so as to consolidate on the successes recorded this year.
While warning the troops, he said: “You must remain alert at all times.
“We can’t afford to take the situation for granted. We are not relenting.”
Yahaya, therefore, urged the commanders to invest their resources in seeking more relevant Information. Besides the investments, they should weary of perpetrators, as they are from the moon; but are here in various communities.
“Commanders on the ground need to harness more information networks, relate with credible sources of information, triangulate and take necessary action against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers in the country,” he said.
He said the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Muhammadu Buhari has been following the developments on the front lines, and he is happy with the troops’ operational successes.
