BY: ABDULKADIR M LAWAN
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has made his maiden visit to Borno State.
Lt.-Gen. Oluyede arrived in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Thursday evening, as part of an operational visit to assess the security situation in the region.
During his visit, he paid a courtesy to Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum at Government House, Maiduguri.
The COAS revealed that the essence of his visit was to see his soldiers, encourage them, and explore ways to end the insurgency plaguing the region.
He commended Gov. Zulum for his unwavering support to the military in their fight against insurgency.
'Gov. Zulum is one of the champions in the fight against insurgency in the region,' the COAS said.
In response, Gov. Zulum expressed his gratitude to the COAS for the visit and commended the troops for their efforts in combating insurgency.
He also used the opportunity to commiserate with the Nigerian Army over the loss of Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the former Chief of Army Staff, and congratulated Lt.-Gen. Oluyede on his recent appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff, a position he assumed just a few days ago following the demise of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja.
The governor assured the COAS of his continued support to the military and pleaded for assistance in resettling some communities in the state.
Lt.-Gen. Oluyede's visit to Borno State marks his first official visit to the region since assuming office as COAS.
His visit is seen as a morale booster for the troops and a demonstration of his commitment to addressing the security challenges in the region.