ONITSHA – Maj.-Gen. John Davies, the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, on Monday, told soldiers to be ready to move and be redeployed to new units in order to tackle insurgency in the country.
Davies told the soldiers of the Nigeria Army Engineers Corps after a familiarisation visit to 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Onitsha, in Anambra.
He said that the major task of the military was to restore peace in the North-East, noting that
the chief of army staff and top commanders of the Nigerian Army had been brainstorming on how to end the insurgency.
He added that the restoration of peace in the region was the business of every soldier, irrespective of his or her unit.
The corps commander said “I am here today to remind you and prepare you for the task ahead of all of us, which is to restore peace in the North-East.
“You know the situation we are facing in the North-East now. The activities of the Boko Haram is a big challenge to the military.
“It is my intention and duty, just as it is the duty of every soldier, to assist the Chief of Army Staff to return peace to the North-East.
“A lot of soldiers are in the North-East working hard to contain the insurgents, tomorrow it may be your turn to go there to work. We have to assist ourselves and make the army alive, using what all of you know we have been trained for.
“Wherever you are posted, you should be able to use your experience and knowledge to change the tide of things.’’
Davies urged the soldiers to make adequate arrangements for their families, “especially now that you might have to move within short notice to volatile areas.’’
The corps commander was later conducted round some newly fabricated equipment made by army engineers.
Some of the equipment include the General Purpose Machine Gun mounted on a boat, caged sand bag for barriers and a refurbished landmine and bomb detector.
Davies also inspected ongoing road construction and reactivation of the mini-water scheme at the Onitsha Military Cantonment.
He was taken round the cantonment by the Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Col. Jibrin Fagge and the Commanding Officer of 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Lt. Col. Sherif Aremu. (NAN
