Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye has taken over as the 39th General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and Force Commander, Joint Task Force South-East code-named ‘Operation UDO KA.’
Olatoye took over from the outgone GOC of the Division, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, who has been deployed to Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
The new GOC charged officers and troops to brace-up, redouble all efforts and surpass all known operational successes.
Olatoye said that his job in the Division was to take the standard higher.
He called on all principal officers and commanders within component formations in the Division to ensure hard work, commitment and dedication of officers and soldiers under them.
“I appreciate the outgoing GOC for his strides in curbing crime and criminality within the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AoR), which is the South-East and Cross River State.
“I noticed that the Division have effectively stopped the Monday Sit-at-Home in the South-East; as I clearly witnessed various businesses and human activities ongoing while I entered Enugu today.
“I laud the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for my deployment here and various support given to the Division leading to its current operational successes,” he said.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Dada appreciated God, officers and soldiers of the Division for bringing solution to the security challenges as well as choatic and problematic environment he met on ground as he took over about two years ago.
He noted that he led and supervised various special operations to check terrorists and criminal elements in communities, forests and major hide-outs of notorious armed groups and criminal elements in the region.
“Division’s AoR witnessed several special operations and the people within the past two years witnessed peaceful yuletide celebrations and mass return especially the 2024 Christmas unprecedented mass return.
“I thank God that the Division witnessed few number of soldiers paying the ultimate sacrifice as they serve their fatherland and few personnel being hospitalised due to operational injuries.
“During my stay, I carried out lot of welfare projects, which included: building accommodations for both officers and soldiers; construction and reconstruction of schools; building training and recreational facilities and building health facilities within the barracks among others.
“I thank the COAS and Nigerian Army Headquarters for the support given to the Division and Operation UDO KA to achieve resounding successes these years,” he said.
Dada called on officers and soldiers to continue in their stride and commitment to rid the South-East of all criminal elements, adding:
“I charge you to give full cooperation to the new GOC and Force Commander to excel as well.”
Highpoints of the event were signing of the handing over and taking over notes by the outgone GOC, Dada, and new GOC, Olatoye, as well as handing over of the Division’s flag to Olatoye among others.
