The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged graduating recruits under the Restore Hope Initiative to confront bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements threatening Nigeria’s peace and security with courage, professionalism and decisive force.
According to an official signed statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Army Chief gave the charge on Thursday during the graduation ceremony of the Restore Hope Programme for the 90 Regular Recruit Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army Shooting Range in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Addressing the recruits, Lieutenant General Shaibu noted that Nigeria is currently facing a critical phase in its security landscape, with criminal groups masquerading as bandits and kidnappers continuing to inflict hardship on citizens through abductions and the destruction of lives and property.
He stressed that the evolving nature of the country’s security challenges requires a new approach to military operations, emphasizing that modern threats demand not only bravery but also intelligence, discipline and strategic thinking.
“The security challenges confronting Nigeria today are complex, uncertain and ambiguous. Terrorism, banditry and other asymmetric threats demand not only courage, but also intelligence, discipline and strategic thinking. The era of relying solely on conventional responses to unconventional threats is behind us,” he said.
The COAS urged the recruits, who are expected to be inducted into military service in two days, to remain steadfast, professional and uncompromising in their duties while operating within the Rules of Engagement and upholding the highest standards of military ethics.
Congratulating the recruits on the successful completion of their training, Lieutenant General Shaibu described the programme as rigorous and modern, designed to prepare soldiers for contemporary security challenges.
He also assured them of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to improving operational effectiveness through the acquisition of modern combat enablers and the procurement of additional capabilities aimed at enhancing efficiency and ensuring greater safety for personnel in the field.
The Army Chief further noted that the Restore Hope Initiative was established to deepen professionalism, discipline, resilience and loyalty among recruits while equipping them with the skills required to effectively respond to the nation’s dynamic security environment.
The graduation marks another milestone in the Nigerian Army’s efforts to strengthen its manpower and operational readiness as it continues ongoing operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality across the country.
