After 35 years of meritorious service, the Nigerian Army on Friday held a pull-out parade in honour of 45 senior artillery officers at Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Kachia, Kaduna State.
Seven Major Generals, 11 Brigadier Generals, 18 Colonels and one Lt. Colonel, three Majors and five captains making a total of 45 officers were pulled out of service.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Major General Abubakar Tarfa urged them to continue serving their fatherland even in retirement as they had done in the last 35 years while in active service.
Tarfa tasked the retirees to embrace faithfulness, honesty and loyalty as their watchwords.
The retiring general expressed optimism in the ability of the military and other sister agencies to overcome the current security challenges faced in some states across the country just as he enjoined officers and men who are still in service to contribute their best quota in protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
He also called on young Nigerians who want to join the military sooner or later to be loyal and obedient to democratic authorities.
“The evolving operational and nonconventional dynamics by non-state actors has necessitated changes in our general doctrine, pieces of training and general dispositions to ensure success in our operations aimed at securing the country from external aggression.
“Trust is an invaluable asset and a core value in your assigned duties and responsibilities and above all in your relationship with the civilians whom you must see as your partners in progress and a source of vital information, especially at this time that we thrive to rid the country of insurgency and other forms of insecurity”, he said.
Maj. Gen. Abbah Muhammad Dikko who was one of the retired senior officers expressed gratitude to God who made it possible for him to leave the service with all his limbs intact and to the Chief of Army Staff for ensuring an ideal and comfortable working environment for personnel to perform their constitutional roles.
