The Nigerian Army on Friday announced the promotion of three Captains to the rank of Major in recognition of their exceptional gallantry in the fight against terrorism in the North-East.
Brig.-Gen.Olajide Laleye, Director, Army Public Relations, announced this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on theĀ activities lined up for theĀ 2014 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference to be held next month in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Laleye gave the names of the officers as Captains IA Manga, AH Ali and Y Micah.
āIt is my pleasure to announce the elevation from the rank of Captain to Major ofĀ three brave officers who have shown aggressive posture and uncommon gallantry in the face of the enemy particularly in the counter-insurgency operations in the North-Eastā, he said.
On the expiration of the State of Emergency at 12 midnight on Thursday, Laleye said,Ā āin respect of the state of emergency, it is undergoing due processā.
āIt is a political issue in which the Nigerian Army or the Armed Forces will only play its part.
āWe are under directives, whatever directives that come from the civil authority they will be obeyed by the Nigerian Army.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the army would not leave any territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the hands of dissidents, insurgents and terrorists.
Laleye said that the 2014 COAS conference would hold from Dec. 1 to Dec. 6Ā and would provide an avenue for the Army leadership to reassess its preparedness to discharge its constitutional roles.
The army spokesman said that the conference would also afford the army high command the opportunity to rub minds with segments of the society and the private sectors.
He said that the conference would be an avenue for the army to rub minds with the academia, especially in the area of emerging global security challenges.
He said that the conference would adopt the Town Hall Meeting format in order to offer a cross section of officers the opportunity to meet and interact with the leadership of the army.
āThe Army Headquarters believes that an effective two-way vertical and horizontal communication can benefit the system immensely, especially as we confront the nationās security challengesā, he said.
āDiscipline, professionalism and patriotism are trends which the Nigerian Army insists on during all operations.
āAccordingly, the Nigerian Army, in adherence to sections 45, 52, and 60 respectively, of the Army Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, will appropriately punish its personnel who have flouted these much-cherished attributes of soldieringā, Laleye said. (NAN)