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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has called on Nigerians to appreciate members of the armed forces whom he said have continued to fight with the last drop of their blood for the peace and stability of the country.
Lagbaja, said members of the military loose their lives on a daily basis with several others maimed for the country to be peaceful.
Gen. Lagbaja, made this known at the 2023 COAS Christmas Carol held at the Mogadishu cantonment in Abuja.
The COAS, while noting that the carol was organized to give praise and thanks to God for the outgoing year, to read His words and unite, said that military men and women always stay awake as guardians of the land so that people could sleep at night.
“For our warriors in the front lines and their families back in our rear units, I must say I quite understand what you feel at this season because I have served in many of our theatres of operations and I have been away from my family and loved ones.
“In times like this, I understand the loneliness our military families endure and the homesickness our troops in the front lines battle.
“It is part of the sacrifices we make for the love of our nation and humanity.
He said “am proud to say that your bravery, service and dedication serve as an example to many out of uniform and I convey the gratitude of our government and people for all you do,”.
The COAS, who described the Christmas season as unique in many ways because of what it symbolizes, said “Christmas is about love, hope, giving and sharing, taking cognisance of the fact that the gift of Christ to the world is born out of God’s love for humanity.
“As military men and women, our life is one of sacrifice and duty.
“It is in light of filling the gaps created by deployment away from loved ones that the Army Headquarters and other Services Headquarters organise events such as this Christmas Carol service and other social get together for us to create a sense of belonging for our military families at home and our troops in the front lines,”.
While calling on troops in the frontlines to share joyful moments with their colleagues, as they celebrate the season away from their loved ones, the COAS, urged all personnel to extend love by giving to the less privileged around them and find solace in the camaraderie that bound them together as a formidable force against adversaries.
He assured the troops that the entire nation stood behind them in the fight and supporting them at every step to defeating the nation’s adversaries.
