Defence Minister warns against disloyalty in Armed Forces

THE Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali (retd) has said the Armed Forces are consolidating the gains of Boko Haram, decimating the insurgents.

He spoke at the passing out parade of 200 officers of the Direct Short Service course 23/2016, held at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI)  on Saturday, in Jaji, Kaduna State.

Dan-Ali warned the officer cadets against disloyalty, disobedience and insubordination to constituted authority.

He said any person caught with disloyalty and similar offences would be decisively dealt.

“I wish to make it clear that the armed forces of Nigeria are also undergoing a period of self appraisal; there is zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct,” he said.

The Minister noted that the passing out of another set of officers to the army came at a period the country was consolidating on the gains of counter -insurgency operation, adding that, “The Nigerian Armed Forces, as you are aware, have been involved in an extensive combat against insurgency and terrorist groups.”

While appreciating the success of the armed forces in various operations, especially in the North-East, where the Boko Haram insurgency had largely been decimated, the minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his political will and strong support for the war against insurgency.

He said the feat was unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian Army and a great boost to the strength of the Officer Corps of the Nigerian Army by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Y. Buratai.

Findings gathered that  the cadets included 72 medical doctors, 26 lawyers, 21 public relations specialists, 18 with specialty to Army Aviation and Engineering, 19 Protestant Chaplaincy, 21 Catholic, 23 Islamic Affairs specialists.