The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai has enjoined Army Officers to be active in military operations and also move closer to God through spiritual warfare.
Buratai who disclosed this at the decoration of 39 newly promoted major-generals, said a spiritual warfare seminar organised by the army recently was to seek God’s intervention for victory in combat operations.
He said God’s intervention was visible during the recent EndSARS protests where no major casualties were recorded at the Lekki Tollgate.
Buratai said: “I must say that the spiritual warfare had helped us during the last #EndSARS protest to the extent that when there were no corpses, some persons were seeing ‘double’ and imaginary corpses at Lekki toll gate in Lagos state.
“We will continue to protect every law-abiding Nigerian anywhere in the country and we will do that in accordance with the rules of engagement and confines of the constitution.”
“I am glad that we held the Spiritual Warfare Seminar on Wednesday and most of the decorated generals today are graduates of the seminar.”
A military intelligence officer, Ahmed Taiwo, who appeared before Lagos Panel on EndSARS on behalf of the Nigerian Army, was among newly decorated Major General.
While encouraging troops on the importance of combat operations, Buratai also asked them to move closer to God.
“I enjoin officers and men to continue to be actively engaged in the military operations and also fast and pray to Almighty God to give us victory as our Motto in the Nigerian Army is ‘victory comes from God.’
“Nigerian Army is a professional military force that respects and protect the citizens, We understand the importance of the human right, we will continue to protect the life of every law-abiding Nigerians and we will do that in accordance with the rules of engagement and confines of the constitution.”
General Buratai also disclosed efforts towards empowering commanders with more responsibility and welfare for the troops.
“We are considering more empowerment to the GOCs to make sure that they administer and motivate their formations more effectively.
“There is more work to be done in the theatres of operation but by and large, I want to say there is a tremendous improvement in countering insecurity. We must maintain our new tempo that is working. I believe that in the not too distant future the new strategies will be successful.”
The Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd) corroborated the remarks of the Chief of Policy and Plans, Army, Lt. Gen Lamidi Adeosun, who bemoaned godfatherism and lobbying for appointments and promotions which is affecting military operations.
The minister said: “We should try and see that we eliminate godfatherism. There is no need to have a short cut in life. Go with the advice of hard work, loyalty and discipline so that when it comes to any promotion board, you don’t need to lobby anybody.”