I have first-hand experience in war, I can tackle Nigeria’s insecurity – Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya

The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya has assured Nigerians that he is capable of tackling the country’s insecurity issues. Yahaya said this when he appeared for screening before the house of representatives joint committee on defence and army. He noted that he has 36 years of military experience and has also participated in war and peacekeeping in Liberia.

“I have brought along with me 36 years of military experience, having joined the army on 27 September, 1985, as a member of 32nd regular course in NDA. I passed out on 2nd September, 1990, and I was posted to the infantry corps as an infantry officer, and since that time, I have passed through all the relevant courses commensurate to my career as I grew up, and I had served in various capacities, including command, staff, instruction and administration, including extracurricular, he said

“Less than three years ago, we were drafted to Liberia where I had first-hand experience in war, if you would call it so. And finally, my unit was located at Kata town, member of number 16 and for those conversant with that deployment, Kata town was the last deployment of the ECOMOG who were the ones facing Charles Tylor NPFLA there. So, all activities including wars and operations, including of course negotiations, were conducted by my unit on behalf of ECOMOG.

“We have severally hosted the United Nations negotiations in Kakata. We have hosted other factional leaders, including Kromah, Johnson, and others in those negotiations. We also fought our way to that end. So, if you will, I have first-hand experience, barely three years after my passing out in war and its processes, similar to what we are facing now.

“After that, when we came back to the country, I was also promoted to guards brigade here where I served as platoon commander. So, I am also abreast with the security requirement of Abuja itself and the parade and other requirements that characterised that deployment.

“Subsequently, I grew up in my career to become commanding officer in guards brigade garrison in Abuja here, and so I was involved in all the security requirements of securing Abuja and, particularly, the presidential villa.”