The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has celebrated Christmas with the frontline troops of Joint Task Force (JTF) North East (NE) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) at the Headquarters 27 Task Force Brigade Buni-Gari in Yobe State.
This was revealed in a lengthy statement on the Army’s X handle on Tuesday, December 26.
According to the statement, the purpose of the celebration was to boost their morale and equally interact freely with them in the theatre of operations.
Part of the statement reads: “The Christmas luncheon was organized to share a moment of joy with the frontline trooops, in order to boost their morale and equally interact freely with them in the theatre of operations. The event was equally conceived to create an atmosphere where Officers and Soldiers would meet together outside the trenches due to the current operations to wine, dine and not to relent, but continuously build on the successes recorded so far.
“While reading out his Christmas message to the troops, the COAS stated that *"Over fifty thousand of our colleagues will miss wishing their families and loved ones Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in person this season, not because they do not want to, but because they will be on duty across difficult-to-access towns, villages and harmlets across the country and beyond."*
Representing the COAS, Commander Armoured Corps, Major General MS Ahmed, “appreciated the sacrifices, efforts and commitment of troops in the fight against insurgency, adding that Army Headquarters has initiated several welfare projects that will directly impact the lives of soldiers and their families. He wished troops and their families Merry Christmas and Happy New.
“The Occasion was graced by the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN Kai, Representative of Yobe State Governor, General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army, Commander Sector 2 Operation HADIN KAI, Commander 27 Task Force Brigade, Heads of Security Agencies in Yobe State amongst other Senior officers across OPHK theatre of operations.