By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, has assured that the Nigeria Armed Forces will continue to work assiduously with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders towards ensuring enduring peace for the Nation.
Igbinomwanhia who was the Special Guest of Honour at the inauguration ceremony of 4 Special Forces (SF) Command Operation Planning Cadre for Officers gave the assurance on Monday in Makurdi.
The Commander disclosed that the Nigerian Army was at the forefront of the fight against insurgency, banditry, farmers-herders clashes, kidnapping and militancy amongst several other security challenges that bedeviled the corporate existence of Nigeria.
“These unscrupulous elements employ different methods and tactics in a bid to frustrate the successes recorded by the Nigerian Army operations.
To this end, all personnel must possess the requisite capacity and competence to effectively tackle these challenges through the deliberate understanding and employment of principles and planning procedures for the conduct of operations”.
The planning cadre seeks to enhance the capacity and broaden the knowledge of participants on operational planning, processes and maneuvering approach to warfare.
“I, therefore, enjoin you to take maximum advantage of this operations planning cadre to build capacity and develop competence. I am hopeful that the intellectual discourse during this cadre will provide useful policy options for the planning and conduct of contemporary and future Nigerian Army operations,” Igbinomwanhia said.
He further thanked the governors of Benue and Nasarawa States for the friendly environment and cordial relationship with the Nigerian Army.
In his address of welcome, the Commander 4 SF Command, Maj. Gen. Hilary Nzan, said that the operations planning cadre was significant in the Nigeria Army training cycle as it afforded them and its middle cadre and field officers the opportunity to learn and interact on the rudiments of operations planning art to support and execute strategic plans or directives.
According to Gen. Nzan, “it required officers of 4 SF Command to brainstorm extensively together with officers of other sister security agencies on how to enhance operations planning values and competencies for effective and optimal performance and service delivery. This is in line with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)”.
