By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has celebrated the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir with frontline troops of the 8 Division and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Tureta in Sokoto State, praising their sacrifices and dedication in the fight against insecurity across the country.
According to an official signed statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 8 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the special Eid-el-Kabir luncheon was organised to boost troops’ morale, foster camaraderie, and honour personnel serving on the frontlines away from their families.
Representing the COAS at the event, the Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Godwin Mutkut, conveyed the Army Chief’s appreciation to the troops for their resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment to duty.
Delivering the goodwill message of the COAS, Major General Mutkut stated that the sacrifices and dedication of the troops remain the backbone of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The luncheon is a reminder that the Nigerian Army stands together, not only in battle but also in celebration,” the COAS said, while commending the troops for their steadfastness in ongoing operations.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic leadership and continuous support to the Nigerian Army, assuring Nigerians that the Army remains fully committed to defending the nation’s territorial integrity and creating a secure environment for economic growth and national development.
In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgba Paul Koughna, described Eid-el-Kabir as a festival whose core values of sacrifice, obedience, and faith align with the ethics and traditions of military service.
Major General Koughna commended troops for their operational successes against terrorist networks and their prompt responses to communal disturbances within the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
He further expressed appreciation to Lieutenant General Shaibu for the sustained provision of combat enablers, timely reinforcements, and continued commitment to troops’ welfare.
The GOC urged the personnel to remain focused, professional, and resolute in the discharge of their responsibilities, while continuing to justify the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians.
