General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has tasked troops with making a difference in the 2025 anti-insecurity operations.
They were instructed by the CDS to step up their efforts to battle criminals and to track down and eliminate dangers wherever they might be hiding.
The order was issued by Gen. Musa on Sunday during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration and award ceremony for airmen, ratings, and soldiers in Abuja.
According to the CDS, a more aggressive strategy was required to handle security issues nationwide.
He stated, “We are not where we want to be, but we’re heading there, and I can assure you that by working together, we shall overcome all acts of evil.
“Our task is to look for the bad guys and take them down. Is that clear? I’ve encouraged all our commanders, this year, we must make a great difference in all our operations. We must step out of the temple, look for the criminals wherever they enter, and go after them.”
General Musa stated that the military now recognises and rewards exceptional officers in addition to court martials.
“I choose to say thank you for the job you are doing. We appreciate every one of you. For us, anyone who has signed to put his life on the line for his nation deserves commendation, so we commend all of you.
“I want to tell you that we appreciate everything you are doing, all the sacrifice, leaving your families behind, staying in the trenches, doing so many wonderful things. Most times, we don’t tell you thank you enough, but this is one way of saying thank you and we appreciate you. And to whom much is given, and to tell you that we will do everything possible to ensure that we take care of you, we look after your welfare, that will make you work better.
“So, for those of you here, let me start from this end. So I say congratulations to all of you. We appreciate you. You know in our system, the more you do, the more we want. So this is just the beginning. This is the first time we’re doing this.
We’re going to maintain this and ensure that every year we commend all those who have done. It is not only to punish people, anything little, to charge him 252 gold for Court Martial. But that if you equally do well, we should also commend you, just like we are commending them,” he stated.
Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff, reaffirmed the significance of the military’s responsibility in maintaining peace and stability. He reminded the soldiers of their pledge to serve the country with loyalty and determination.
“We must not lose sight of the oath we took to be dutiful, faithful, and loyal servicemen and women,” Lagbaja said. “We must go wherever lawfully sent—by land, sea, or air. Therefore, we must remain resolute in our fight against terrorism, insurgency, secessionism, and other threats to our collective peace as Nigerians,” Oluyede said.
Additionally, he asked staff members to back the government’s initiatives to better the lives of Nigerians, emphasising that their dedication was essential to realising the country’s goals.
Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, reassured personnel during his speech that the Navy is dedicated to their well-being and operational effectiveness.
“We will continue to prioritise your welfare and provide the necessary equipment to tackle the challenges ahead,” Ogalla stated.
“The Nigerian Navy will also continue to rejig our operations by introducing new assets and improving surveillance capabilities. This will boost the morale of our gallant troops and make it easier for us to overcome the enemy,” he stated.
Ogalla went on to say that the actions would improve the military’s capacity to eliminate threats and defeat criminal organisations.