By Muhammad Tijjani

Retired Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Ngubane, has urged Army Cadets of the Short Service Course 47 on being conscious of the prevailing security situation in the country and their civic and military responsibilities.

Ngubane made the urge while speaking as a special guest at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) awards and beating of the retreat in honour of the cadets on Wednesday in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the ‘Beating of the Retreat’ is an age-long military tradition which dates back to several centuries whereby the sounding of the retreat is used to recall nearby patrolling, fighting units to their camps at sunset.

In the NDA, the award ceremony and beating of the retreat is a regimental event which forms part of a series of activities marking the end of a successful training year.

He urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution through exhibiting high level of discipline, loyalty and subordination to civil authority and emplacement of national interests above personal interests.

“I urge all of you to remain focused, dedicated and committed to your duties and responsibilities upon successful graduation.

“You should never be complacent at any point in your career. The future is bright but the level of brightness will depend on your character and your individual efforts,” Ngubane said.

He commended the team of instructors and staff of the NDA for their efforts in grooming the cadets.

Earlier, the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, said the Beating of the Retreat signified the end of a training period for cadets, while the award is an opportunity to reward hard work by individual cadets who excelled in military training and sporting activities.

He said the Short Service Cadets commenced training on 4th of April 2021, noting that the training period was initially scheduled for nine months but was extended by two months to equip them with special skills required to deal with hybrid of threats within the operational environment.

Yusuf disclosed, however, withstanding the rigours of the military training and character development of the Army Short Service Cadets of Course 47, they would be commissioned into the Nigerian Army on 26 Feb., 2022.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, and staff of the NDA for their unflinching support and hard work throughout the duration of the cadets’ training.

NAN reports that the cadets to be graduated are 295 in number, including two from Republic of Liberia who would be commissioned into the Armed Forces of Liberia.

NAN also reports that the event featured match past display, aerobics, bonfire ceremony, live band, among others. (NAN)

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Abba Kyari says IPOB members are out to destroy his reputation

BAYO WAHAB

February 17, 2022 8:00 AM

Kyari reportedly claimed IPOB members were after him because of the onslaught against them in the southeast.

Abba Kyari [NPF]

The embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari has blamed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) for his travails.

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Kyari said the groups are out to destroy his reputation.

The suspended super cop was reported to have made this claim when he appeared before a probe panel led by Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

In the report of the panel which was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and forwarded to the Police Service Commission (PSC), Kyari claimed IPOB members were after him because of the onslaught against them in the southeast.

“It is a campaign to smear his reputation by members of IPOB/ESN who vowed to destroy him, due to his onslaught against them in the South East,” Kyari was quoted to have said in the report.

But the panel reportedly faulted his claim, saying it is watery.

The panel also ordered his demotion from the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Recall that Kyari was recently declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged links with an international drug cartel.

Hours after he was declared wanted, the police arrested him alongside four other officers and handed them over to the anti-narcotic agency.