Respond to distress calls, stamp out criminals – COAS charges troops

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Taoreed Lagbaja has charged troops to always respond to distress calls to stamp out criminals elements in the country

Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement on Friday night, said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Taoreed Lagbaja gave the charge at the flagged off of operations to quell the herders/ farmers clashes in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to the statement, the operation, which was launched to mitigate the crisis in Mangu has progressively tackled the deteriorating security situation in the Local Government, restoring relative peace in the area.

He urged the troops to sustain swift and timely responses to distress calls, adding that they should also make it a point of duty to feedback to the communities concerned.

According to him, doing so would build the people’s confidence in the ongoing operations.

He reminded the troops that he places a premium on the welfare and well-being of his personnel.

The COAS also held a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Mangu and advised all to show commitment to what he described as the Mangu Peace project.

He said when the peace is returned, it is the residents of the community that would benefit the most.

While warning all parents to advise their children to keep away from trouble, he sympathised with those who lost family or property in the crisis, stressing that no amount of money is worth the life of any individual.

He directed the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, to work speedily with the stakeholders in ensuring that lasting peace is restored, and to facilitate the return of Internally Displaced Persons to their respective communities.