Boko Haram: Nani urges troops to maintain momentum

The former General Officer Commanding 8 Task Force Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Ali Nani has urged officers and soldiers of 8 Task Force Division to maintain the momentum achieved so far in clearing unrepentant Boko Haram terrorists around the Lake Chad Basin.

He made the call during his farewell speech in the Division’s conference room and 242 Battalion parade ground in Kinnasara Military Cantonment, Monguno on Saturday.

The General pointed out that the successes recorded in the ongoing offensive against terrorists hiding in Northern Borno and the fringes of the Lake Chad area, especially Chikin Gudu are as a result of troops’ doggedness, comradeship, bravery and resilience.

He charged them to remain vigilant and most importantly, accord his successor the same support and solidarity that was given to him while he held the fort.

The outgoing general thanked the troops for their immeasurable sacrifices aimed at ensuring that terrorists have no safe haven in the Division’s Area of Responsibility.

He went on “I am handing over this command to my successor a fulfilled Commander owing to the successes recorded during my tour of duty. And I attribute this to the irrepressible courage and zeal of the troops”, he added.

A one minute silence was observed in honour of fallen compatriots who paid the supreme sacrifice in the fight to ensure that normalcy was fully restored in the division’s area of responsibility.

In his remarks, the new GOC Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai for giving him the opportunity to serve in a new capacity.

He commended the former GOC for his achievements and pledged to uphold the ideals of the division and make its area of responsibility unapproachable for desperate terrorists.

The climax of the event was the signing of the handing and taking over notes, presentation of command flag by the former GOC, Major General Ali Nani to the new Acting GOC Brigadier General Stevenson Olabanji in the division’s conference room and the lowering of the old flag and hoisting of a new one to symbolise the end and beginning of a new era in the division.

Brigadier General Stevenson Olabanji is a member of 37 Regular Course from the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on 22 September, 1990.

Before his appointment as the Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Task Force Division Nigerian Army, he had served in various military formations and held several appointments.