Tinubu to grace 2024 Army Celebration in Jos – Lagbaja

From Jude Owuamanam, Jos

President Bola Tinubu is expected to grace the grand finale of the 2024 Nigerian Army Celebration (NACEL 2024), Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has said.

Lagbaja told Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba, when he paid courtesy visits to them in their offices that the grand finale of the week long celebration will take place at the headquarters of Maxwell Khobe cantonment of the 3 Armoured Division Rukuba Jos.

The army chief said that the celebration , with the theme, ‘Nigerian Army: Imperative for Combating Contemporary Security Challenges Within a Joint Environment’ would mark the army’s 161st year of establishment.

He said that apart from the president, many dignitaries from Nigeria and outside the country are expected while the military would also showcase some of its armaments.

Lagbaja implored the residents not to panic when they see movement of troops and equipment.

The COAS said the army will also commission some civilian intentions as as part of its civil/military relations.

He said, *And as part of activities lined up for the NACEL, we commissioned some special intervention projects, renovation of schools, and provision of some critical infrastructural facilities to some communities in Plateau State.

Mutfwang, speaking, congratulated the Nigerian Army for reaching the 161 year milestone and for bringing your grand finale of the celebration to Jos

He said that this symbolised the long relationship between the army and Plateau state.

Meanwhile the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Traditional Rulers and Emirs, Jacob Gyang Buba, has said that the activities of illegal miners contribute to the spate of crisis in the state

He therefore urged security agencies to find a way of curtailing their activities.

The traditional ruler, who spoke when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, visited him as part of activities marking the 2024 Army Day celebration (NACEL 2024), regretted that activities that would have been of economic benefit to the people have turned out to be a nightmare.

Buba, who also reminisced on the Christmas Eve attack in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom, reminded the army chief of his promise to establish an army base in Bokkos.

He said this would curb the incessant clashes between farmers and herders in the area and the state in general.

He congratulated the Nigerian Army on the 161st anniversary of its establishment, especially for bringing the celebration to the state

He said, “We will continue to dialogue with the army to see how to help us contain that aspect that is supposed to be an issue of economic development but it has come with so much criminality and unwelcome destruction of land and property. You came here when we had these huge challenges in Bokkos, Mangu, Barkin Ladi and Riyom and pleaded with you to speak to the authorities about the real situation.”