By Uche Amunike
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya has said that the Nigerian Army will not relent on its fight against insurgency, until total peace is achieved through commitment, determination and prayers.
He made the statement during the special inter-denominational church service at Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro-Abuja, Sunday, as the Nigerian Army Day celebration was held.
General Yahaya who, though a Muslim, attended the church service reception in person, advised the military to always be thankful to God for their successes even as they prayed for more blessings.
He stated that by attending the event in person not withstanding his Muslim status, he was trying to pass the message that the military operates as one single unit.
Said he, ‘The military operates only as one unit even though there are Christians and Muslims. The job of the military is not an individual one but of a collective unit, sub-units, sections platoons, company, battalion and brigade’.
‘There are no individual jobs or division, when we are lined up in a battle front. The man next to you could be a Christian or a Muslim. The essence is unity and synergy with other services and agencies. And you can see what the synergy has brought us in the successes we are achieving, hence the Inter-denominational service we had. We are all united in our goal to bring security and peace to the country’.
The service started with a procession of the clergymen who were joined by the military officers adorned in their ceremonial uniforms.
The gospel reading which was read by the Director Chaplain Services, Roman Catholic, Colonel Iscongo Gwam Mariga centred on the unity of the Trinity: God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.
Colonel Moriga encouraged his fellow military personnel to be dedicated in their line of duty regardless of whether they are being appreciated or not.
Said he: ‘it is not life that matters but what we do with life that matters’.
The Director Chaplain Services Protestant, Colonel Rev Martins Dogo, delivered the sermon which was titled, ‘Collective Efforts’.
He explained that without God it will be impossible to attain peace and achievements in operation, saying, ‘I call on the pride of the nation, that is the Nigerian army, to march on to meet the needs of our nation and join hands with our political leaders for the good of our nation. We must at any given time, struggle to succeed. We must join hands together if we are to succeed’.
The Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Anthony B Omozoje, on his part explained, that the significance of the Nigerian Armed Forces Day celebration was to celebrate the sacrifices of the forebears and past heroes of the army.
The service took place at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro Abuja and was graced by families and friends of the Army.
