By Sani Idris

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Maj-Gen Farouk Yahaya, on Friday urged Warrant Officers to lead by example in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Yahaya threw the challenge at the Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna, during the graduation ceremony of Warrant Officers of course 37.

Represented by Maj-Gen Kabir Mukthar, the COAS said the Warrant oOdficers’ Academy was established to rejuvenate the senior non-commissioned officers’ cadre of the Nigerian Army, which was observed to be lagging behind in professional standards.

Yahaya urged them to be innovative in tackling and resolving security challenges currently confronting the nation.

He also urged them to employ the professional skills they acquired during their course, noting the training had equipped them to bridge the knowledge and leadership gaps between officers and soldiers.

“All hands must continue to be on deck in preserving and sustaining the cohesion of the Nigerian army as we take steps to provide required security for our dear nation,” Yahaya said.

Earlier, the commandant of the Warrant Officers Academy, Brig-Gen Samson Abai, had said the course began in February,

comprising 70 Warrant Officers from various corps of the Nigerian Army.

He explained that the course was a 22-week programme, accompanied by intense field training and a measure of academic activities, designed to build the capacity of the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO’s).

“The course is aimed at developing the leadership and management skills of the SNCOs to equip them to efficiently interpret and communicate command decisions down the chain of command.

“This in essence will bridge existing gaps between officers’ and the soldiers’ cadre,” he said.

Abai stated the academy’s commitment to continue to improve on the instructional curricular, facilities and environment to ensure that training offered was mission -oriented and beneficial.

He urged them to be courageous, honest, disciplined and loyal to their superiors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Warrant Officers comprise of 42 from the Infantry Corps, seven from Armour, three from Artillery, one from Engineers and four from Signals.

The Ordinance, Military Police, Intelligence, Band and Public Relations units had one participant each.(NAN)

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Edited and published by Sani Idris

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DSS invites Sheikh Gumi after he accused Nigerian soldiers of supporting bandits

bayo wahab

June 25, 2021 7:30 PM

Gumi's spokesperson says there was nowhere in the TV interview where Gumi categorically accused the entire military.

Sheikh Abubakar Gumi is an influential cleric in Kaduna State. (Punch)

Days after Sheikh Ahmad Gumi accused the Nigerian Army of supporting bandits’ activities in the north, the Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly invited the controversial Islamic cleric for questioning.

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In his recent comments, Gumi claimed that Nigerian soldiers were colluding with bandits who have been responsible for various crimes and atrocities against Nigerians.

The cleric during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, June 23, said bandits would not have had access to weapons without the support of some security personnel.

Two days after making the comment, the DSS invited Gumi to its office in Kaduna State on Friday, Punch reports.

However, Gumi’s spokesman, Tukur Mamu, has in an interview with the VOA dismissed the allegation against the cleric.

According to Punch, Mamu said there was nowhere in the TV interview where Gumi categorically accused the entire military.

He explained that what Gumi said was that people have been saying and “even the soldiers have been saying that there could be some bad eggs amongst them”.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army had described Gumi’s comment as a calculated attempt to denigrate the Nigerian military and undermine the sacrifices of the troops.