The General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army,Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade yesterday stated that the Nigerian Army has no apology for any group or sect that threatened the
peace and stability of the country.

‘’The Nigerian Army has no issue with the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Shi’ite, they are like any sect in the land, but as long as they obey the law of the land no problem, but if any group choose to challenge the authority of the land, it means they do not value the sanctity of life and the constitution of Nigeria”, he stated.

Addressing newsmen at the premises of 1 Div in Kaduna, the GOC said, “We have problem with those who choose to challenge the authority of the state and create a state within a state, who do not recognize the laws of the land.”

He insisted that the Army remained the guidance of Nigerian democracy, but stated that an attempt on Chief of Army Staff was akin to an attempt on a sitting president.

Giving an overview of the activities of the division in 2015, the GOC said, “We want to re assure the members of the North West zone that the army will do everything possible as mandated by the constitution of Nigeria to protect our people and to enable the people go about their activities without molestation.”

He said the Governors of the North West had also been assisting in providing the necessary support and collaboration with the army and other agencies of government in the zone to make sure everything was peaceful.

He gave the names of some of the operations in the zone as, operation MESSA, Operation restore peace, operation Sharan Daji, among others.

Giving an update on Cattle rustling and banditry, the GOC said 37,000 livestock had been rescued and had been handed over to the state committees charged with the responsibility of handing them over to their owners.

Also arrested were 294 cattle rustlers who have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

Also, 101 armed bandits were killed, weapons recovered and 200 camps destroyed.

In the cause of the year, 6 soldiers were killed in the cause of the operation while about 10 were seriously wounded and 2 soldiers missing in the cause of the operation.

According to the GOC, Boko Haram had been defeated, adding that what was happening now was mop up operation.

‘’There is no organization in the land that respects the sanctity of life than the Army; because that is the business we do to safe guard the life of the people. In the cause of doing our work, we make no apology to any group that constitute obstacle to our protecting the life of Nigerians in the zone,’’ he emphasized.