The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on Tuesday in Abuja, officially pulled out of the Nigerian Army in a parade at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro.

Retired Gen. Olonisakin, pulled out following his retirement and appointment of his successor, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, by President Muhammadu Buhari on Jan. 26.

As part of the military tradition in honouring a retiring CDS, the event involved a march past by the officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

It was attended by the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, members of the National Assembly, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, current Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Irabor and other services chiefs.

Others in attendance were the traditional ruler of Ode-Ekiti, as well as representative of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

In his valedictory speech at the event, the erstwhile CDS, described his long and successful career in the AFN as uncommon grace and favour of Almighty God, as well as the magnanimity of President Muhammadu Buhari, who found him worthy to be appointed as the 16th Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Gen Olonisakin (rtd) further maintained the AFN under his command and with the support of the political leadership was able to reclaim territories that were hitherto under the control of Boko Haram Terrorists.

According to him, the AFN under the current political dispensation has been transformed by building capacity and gaining valuable experience in fighting asymmetric threats which transited from fighting conventional war on land, sea and air to capacity to containing cyber-security threats.
The former Defence Chief, further disclosed that the military/defence diplomacy which was the overall strategy of the Nigerian Government by applying a whole-of-government approach to addressing the insurgency/terrorism gave birth to the operationalization of various military alliances between Nigeria and her neighboring countries, especially in the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

This efforts, he said led to improved regional cooperation and the strengthening of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
He further pointed out that the establishment of close interaction and liaison with other strategic partners such as the P-3 Partners comprising the United Stated of America, United Kingdom and France and some Middle East countries as well as South Africa was in the overall interest of the AFN and in furtherance of Nigerian national security efforts.

The former CDS thanked his former counter-parts within the African continent for supporting the AFN in its counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism campaigns.
According to the former CDS, “we have therefore built a solid foundation on which the current and indeed future generations of Nigerian military commanders can build on in the performance of their constitutional roles of defending our dear nation from both external and domestic threats to our corporate existence.”
Gen Olonisakin (rtd) posited that the establishment of DHQ Special Forces Brigade and its deployment to the Gambia in 2017 for Operation Restore Democracy enabled the restoration of democracy in that country following the aftermath of an election crisis.

On the welfare of personnel of the AFN, the former CDS said his administration embarked on numerous office and residential accommodation, approval of an improved Terms and Conditions of Service and Manual of Financial Administration for the AFN.
He expressed appreciation to the Minister of Defence, members of the National Assembly, especially the Senate and House Committees on Defence for their support throughout his tenure in office.

He equally thanked the immediate Service Chiefs and the Chief of Defence Intelligence for their unwavering commitment to duty while in office.

The former CDS lauded the efforts, contributions and sacrifices of personnel of the AFN, veterans and civilian staff as well as troops in the various theatres of operation, urging the new military leadership to continue to provide the needed support to the families of military fallen heroes.

Gen Olonisakin who is a member of 25 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), thanked his course-mates for their inputs and service, describing them as his strategic team ‘A-Team’ which he said constituted members of the future Plans Committee.

Highlight of the ceremony included review of the parade by the immediate past CDS, march past in slow and quick time by 4 Guards comprising Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force and the pulling-out of the former CDS and his wife, Mrs Omobolanle Olonisakin.

Other dignitaries who graced the event were Heads of Security and law enforcement agencies, former CDS, Admiral Ola Saa’d Ibrahim (rtd), former CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd), The President of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs Victoria Irabor and the Olode of Ode Ekiti.

The Nigerian Troops have eliminated 81 Boko Haram fighters in Sambisa axis and lost one soldier from landmine attack.

Meanwhile, fleeing terrorists have continued to wreak havoc and razing villages in their escape routes. The troops of Sector 1 comprising troops of 21 and 26 Brigades supported by Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) cleared many villages of terrorists in the axis including Garin Bello, Kwoche, Lawanti, Alfa Bula Hassan and Alfa Cross among others.

Sources said the troops encountered stiff resistance from the terrorists who laid improvised explosive devices along the troops axis of advance.

“The relentless troops destroyed the terrorists’ camps and recovered gun trucks and weapons as NAF aircraft continue to provide close air and interdiction support to the ground forces

“Regrettably a soldier paid the supreme sacrifice with 4 other soldiers wounded in an improvised explosive devices incident,” the source added.

In a message to the troops on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Farouk Yahaya praised the gallantry of the troops and urged them to sustain it.

He also paid tribute to the fallen hero and urged the troops to honour his memory by dealing with the terrorists ruthlessly without mercy.

Meanwhile, a large number of fleeing Boko Haram terrorists invaded Zira and Gur villages in Biu South Local Government Area of Borno State. The terrorists stormed the communities at about 4:30pm on Sunday, on motorcycles and gun trucks and set ablaze many houses, while residents scampered for safety.

The NAF aircraft later engaged the fleeing terrorists with firepower from the air.