The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has said that the relentless efforts of Task Force commanders in combating insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other security threats in theatres of war have not gone unnoticed.

General Musa spoke at the opening event of the Joint Task Force Commanders Conference held at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

The event was attended by almost all the past service chiefs, all the theatre commanders, including all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and all the heads of paramilitary agencies.

Addressing the task force commanders, Musa noted that the successes recorded in recent operations are a testament to their professionalism, resilience, and commitment to duty.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before such a distinguished gathering of leaders who are at the forefront of safeguarding our nation’s peace and security. The Chief of Defence Staff Joint Task Force Commanders Conference provides a critical platform for us to reflect on our collective efforts, assess our progress, and strategise for the challenges ahead.

“It is an opportunity to strengthen our collaboration, share insights, and reaffirm our commitment to the defence of our great nation. Let me first appreciate everyone for making time out of your very busy schedules to be here today.

“We warmly recognize and welcome our distinguished Special Guest of Honour, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ably represented by our dear Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. Your Excellency, your presence today further epitomizes Mr. President’s zeal and determination to bring a lasting solution to the security challenges facing our nation.

“Let me begin by commending the unwavering dedication and sacrifices of our officers and men across the various Joint Task Forces. Your relentless efforts in combating insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and other security threats have not gone unnoticed.

“The successes recorded in recent operations are a testament to your professionalism, resilience, and commitment to duty. You have demonstrated that through unity of purpose and effective collaboration, we can achieve remarkable results.

“However, while we celebrate these achievements, we must remain vigilant. The security landscape continues to evolve, presenting new and complex challenges. Evolving threats, such as the employment of armed drones, transnational crimes, and the proliferation of improvised explosive devices, demand innovative and adaptive responses.

“This conference is, therefore, an opportunity to critically examine these challenges and develop actionable strategies to address them. We must leverage technology, enhance intelligence-sharing, and strengthen interagency cooperation to stay ahead of these threats.

“Consequently, the theme of this conference, ‘Enhancing Jointness Across All Theatres of Operation,’ has been carefully crafted to specifically target a perennial challenge that has negatively impacted our overall efforts. The theme focuses on the concept of jointness as a major determinant for operational success, particularly within the context of a complex and dynamic contemporary security environment.

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“The concept of jointness remains at the core of our operational success and is a pillar of my leadership concept, which is ‘to Nurture a Professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is People-Centric, Capable of Meeting its Constitutional Responsibilities in a Joint and Collaborative Environment.’ Thus, as Commanders, you play a pivotal role in fostering this spirit of collaboration. I, therefore, urge you to continue building bridges, sharing resources, and working as a cohesive team. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will prevail.

“As we deliberate over the next few days, let us keep in mind the trust reposed in us by the Nigerian people. They look up to us to protect their lives, properties, and freedoms. We must not fail them. Let us approach this conference with open minds, a willingness to learn, and a determination to innovate.

“Let us leave here with a clear roadmap for addressing the security challenges of our time. I will surely expect that we will engage in robust discussions, ask questions, and challenge any assumptions to forge more effective paths for our ongoing operations.”