What I Told President Tinubu – Oluyede, New Chief of Army Staff

The new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured President Bola Tinubu that he is fully committed to tackling Nigeria’s insecurity issues. In a statement to journalists after a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Oluyede revealed that one of his priorities is the elimination of the Lakurawa terrorist group, citing strengthened cooperation with Niger Republic as a key factor in the fight against cross-border insurgency.

On his visit, Oluyede explained: “It’s related to my appointment. I am here to reassure Mr. President that I will do my best to make Nigeria better in terms of security. And I’m going to explore doing this maybe in a different way. I’ll get some other results that will make Nigeria better. That’s my major aim of coming, and to seek his support, which he’s been doing over the years.”

Oluyede also discussed his recent visits to military formations in the Northwest and Northeast of Nigeria, where he met with officers and soldiers to motivate them in the fight against insecurity. “I was there to speak with my officers and soldiers, and to make them realize the need to bring all these forms of insecurity to an end. I made it clear that I expect better results going forward,” he said.

Regarding the Lakurawa terrorist group, Oluyede assured that the military is intensifying efforts to eliminate the threat. “We are hitting them hard on the Nigerian side. What usually happens is that they flee to Niger Republic. Now that Niger is coming on board, very soon, Lakurawa will be a thing of the past,” Oluyede stated confidently.

The new COAS’s statement reflects a renewed focus on cross-border cooperation to address the growing insecurity in Nigeria, with a clear message that the military is committed to safeguarding the country’s peace and stability.