The Nigerian Army (NA) has announced its partnership with the United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) in an effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army, expressed the army’s willingness to collaborate with UNOCT during their meeting at the Army Headquarters in Abuja recently.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja emphasized the importance of this partnership as Nigeria takes the lead in regional counter-terrorism efforts. The COAS highlighted the Nigerian Army’s success in capturing large numbers of surrendered Boko Haram terrorists through both kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
The army has also been conducting disarmament and demobilization processes in line with international best practices. Lieutenant General Lagbaja stated that the visit from UNOCT will further enhance global, regional, and national responses to terrorism by promoting partnership and capacity building.
During the meeting, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary General of UNOCT, expressed the office’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Nigerian Army. Mr. Voronkov emphasized the need for increased multilateral collaboration to address the evolving terrorism threat in Africa.
In a separate development, the COAS also received a delegation of 27 accredited Defence Attachés and Advisers (DA) to Nigeria. Led by Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence, the DAs visited the Army Headquarters on the same day.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja acknowledged the cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the armies of the represented nations in areas such as training, operations, and defense procurement. He expressed his desire for further engagements and assured the DAs of a conducive atmosphere for interaction, idea sharing, and experiences to sustain existing bilateral relations between the Nigerian Army and their respective countries.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, highlighted the significance of the DAs’ interaction with the COAS, as it provided an opportunity to address concerns and other matters of interest. Colonel Legha Romi, the Doyen, Defence Attaché from India, thanked the COAS on behalf of the DAs for the chance to interact and requested further engagements that would facilitate mutual benefits and experiences for Nigeria and each represented country.
The meeting between the COAS, CDI, and the DAs included an interactive session, allowing for fruitful discussions and exchange of ideas.
This partnership between the Nigerian Army and UNOCT, as well as the ongoing engagement with Defence Attachés from various countries, showcases Nigeria’s commitment to global counter-terrorism efforts and its dedication to establishing lasting bilateral relationships to strengthen security measures.
