Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The 14 Brigade Nigeria Army Ohafia, Abia State, Monday, got a new Brigade Commander, as Brigadier General Olusola Diya, took over command of the Brigade from Brig. Gen. Nsikak John Edet, now posted to the Army headquarters Abuja.
Brig. Gen. Diya was until his redeployment to the 14 Brigade, the Director of Training, Army headquarters Abuja.
Fielding questions from newsmen after taking over the command of the Brigade, Gen. Diya charged soldiers and officers of the Brigade on dedication to duty.
He also tasked them on loyalty to the nation and commitment.
He urged them to adopt the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, which, according to him, centres on commitment and dedication to duty.
Brig. Gen. Diya also promised to key into the COAS’s philosophy of “having a well trained, equipped and highly motivated soldiers ready to discharge their duties faithfully.”
Gen. Diya promised to work in partnership with other security agencies to keep the state safe.
He read riot act to criminals vowing to make the State too hot for them.
“We want Abia to be a model for other states to emulate. In few months, other states will be calling to ask us the strategy we used to get rid of kidnappers, oil bunkerers and other criminal elements.”
The Brigade Commander solicited the cooperation residents of the state, urging them to volunteer information about criminals in their vicinity, emphasing that security operatives cannot achieve much without credible intelligence.
Addressing officers and soldiers of the Brigade earlier, the former Commander, thanked them for their cooperation and support to him, and urged them to extend same cooperation to his successor.
He also charged them to continue to be disciplined and focused in the discharge of their duties.
Edet who said he had made remarkable achievements in enhancing the welfare of the personnel, identified the activities of non-state actors, bunkerers and baby factory operators as some of the challenges in the state.
He expressed faith in the ability and capacity of the new Brigade Commander who he said, is well experienced, to contain the challenges.
