The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has felicitated with all Muslim personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan.
This was contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.
The CDS, while urging the personnel to uphold the virtues of piety, honesty, tolerance, love, and unity which they embraced during Ramadan, appealed to Nigerians to extend their love and support to the AFN. He also asked them to remember in their prayers the fallen comrades, saying that the Armed Forces of Nigeria belong to all Nigerians, and that the collective determination to address the challenges of insecurity was crucial for national development.
He called on the troops deployed across all theaters of operation to remain disciplined, resilient, patriotic, and courageous in their service to the nation, stating, “Your sacrifices and unwavering dedication to safeguarding Nigeria are deeply appreciated. We recognize the sacrifices you make, sometimes at great personal cost, to ensure the peace and security of our nation.”
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General Musa emphasised that as the Chief of Defence Staff, his commitment to the welfare and well-being of the troops in all theatres of operation remained unchanged. He commended the continued support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the AFN despite the economic challenges facing the nation.
The statement reads, “With heartfelt gratitude, I extend warm greetings to all Muslim officers, soldiers, ratings, airmen/airwomen, and civilian staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) on yet another occasion of Eid-el-Fitr 2024, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. This momentous occasion offers us a chance to seek forgiveness, divine favor, and enduring peace for our beloved nation.
“As you commemorate this sacred time, I urge you to uphold the virtues of piety, honesty, tolerance, love, and unity which you embraced during Ramadan.
“I call upon our troops deployed across all theaters of operation to remain disciplined, resilient, patriotic, and courageous in their service to our great nation. Your sacrifices and unwavering dedication to safeguarding Nigeria are deeply appreciated. We recognize the sacrifices you make, sometimes at great personal cost, to ensure the peace and security of our nation.
“I take this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians to extend their love and support to our AFN and to remember in their prayers our fallen comrades. The Armed Forces of Nigeria belong to all Nigerians, and our collective determination to address the challenges of insecurity is crucial for our national development.
“As Chief of Defence Staff, I reaffirm my commitment to the welfare and well-being of our troops in all theaters of operation. Despite the economic challenges facing our nation, I acknowledge the support the AFN continues to receive under the leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“Once again, I extend warm Eid-el-Fitr greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”