The outgoing Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Yushau Abubakar, a major general, has described officers and men of the theater as heroes, as many of them have put their lives on the line in defence of the nation.

Mr. Abubakar, who is now Chief of Training and Operations at the Nigerian Army Headquarters, stated this while handing over to the new Theatre Commander, Hassan Umaru, also a major general.

“I am very delighted today, as I am leaving the leadership of the Operation Lafiya Dole a happy man because we have successfully done what is best to the military and the country at large, as we have degraded the capacity of the terrorists and Nigerians should appreciate hard work performed by the military and I am leaving the scene to a person who is already in the theater of war and is familiar with the terrain in the area of the operation,” Mr. Abubakar said.

“I consider all of you as my heroes, as all of you have contributed to the feat we achieved in the war against insurgency within the theater. My redeployment to the Army headquarters is an indication of the confidence the military high command has in us and I urge you to extend the gesture to my successor.”

Also handing over, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Lamidi Adeosun, a major general, urged officers and men of the Division to cooperate with his successor, Victor Ezugwu, a brigadier general, who he described as a fine infantry officer that will continue the good work until the terrorists are completely wiped out.

Mr. Adeosun is now heading to the Multinational Joint TaskForce (MNJTF), with headquarters in Chad.