Maj.-Gen. Umar Musa has taken over as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, while urging troops to redouble efforts for more hard work.
Taking over from the out gone GOC of the Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja on Friday in Enugu, Musa said that he would continue with the success strides of the out gone GOC.
According to him, I will build on the success trajectory already established by Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja, who is now the GOC of 1 Division, Kaduna.
“We will restrategise and beef up security; while increase the tempo so that we can surpass what Lagbaja had achieved here.
“I will work with the commanders and seek their cooperation to see that all security threats are surmounted in the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR),” he said.
Musa thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, for the confidence repose on him to be redeployed as the GOC of 82 Division after serving as the GOC of 81 Division, Lagos.
He said: “I appreciate the out gone GOC, Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja for the innovations and successes he recorded while serving as the GOC.
“I want to thank the troops for their sacrifice and dedication but I must say that we have more work to do to stabilise the security of the Division’s AOR and deal with criminal elements”.
Earlier, Lagbaja commended the principal officers, commanders, senior officers, officers and soldiers of the Division for their unflinching support during his 17 months sojourn as the GOC of the Division.
He said that the troops of the Division had been exemplary and professional in dealing with issues of unknown gunmen, criminal elements and secessionist groups with the Division’s AOR.
“I must laud your gallantry and commitment to ensure that the South-East and other parts of the Division’s AOR remained secured.
“I charge you all to extend the same cooperation and hard work to the new GOC for him to succeed as well,” he said.
Lagbaja thanked the friends of the Division and the media for their goodwill and support to the Division.
Highlights of the event included decoration of the new GOC with the Division’s signal, handing over of the Division’s flag to the new GOC and a group photograph.
