Abuja – The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has called for more prayers for soldiers in the battle field as the Nigerian Army intensifies efforts to defeat terrorism in the country.
Minimah made the call on Friday in Abuja at a special Juma’at Prayer as part of activities to commemorate the 2015 Nigerian Army Day Celebration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jumat prayer which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Mogadishu Cantonment Mosque, witnessed special prayers for the nation.
Minimah, who was represented by Maj.- Gen. Adamu Abubakar, Chief of Army Administration, said that the Juma’at Service was one of the highlights of the 2015 Nigerian Army Day Celebration.
The chief of army staff, who described terrorism as a global phenomenon, which Nigeria was also battling to defeat, expressed optimism that the menace of terrorism would soon be defeated in Nigeria.
“ I think everybody knows that extremism leads to terrorism, and terrorism is the biggest problem the world is facing now and particularly with us here in Nigeria,
“As regards today’s event, what we are here to do is to pray for our soldiers who are on the battle field, for the country and for everybody and we believe that by the grace of God all this things will soon be in the past,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Chief Imam, Nigerian Army and Director Islamic Affairs of the Nigerian Army, Col. Shehu Mustapha, in his sermon, condemned the spate of terrorism in the country.
He warned Nigerians irrespective of religious creed, against any form of extremism which he described as a catalyst for terrorism and insurgency.
Mustapha said Islam is a religion of peace that detests violence and any form of extremism, and warned against perpetrating violence under the guise of any religion.
He called on the Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan period to intensify prayers for peace and stability of the nation and to also support the Nigerian Army to defeat terrorism.
“ Extremism is highly condemned by Islam, moderation is recommended, and the religion of Islam is a religion of moderation,’’ he said.(NAN)
