Following the preparations and plans by the Nigerian Army to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the 2023 general elections across the nation, a combined monitoring and evaluation teams from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training (DAT) and Department of Standard and Evaluation (DASE) has, on Saturday, 25 February, 2023, paid a courtesy visit to Headquarters 7 Division/Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Borno State.
Speaking at the event, the team leader of the joint AHQ Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Major General MA Etsu-Ndagi, said both teams were among 11 teams constituted by Army Headquarters to monitor the conduct of Operation Safe Conduct nationwide, most especially in areas of troops involvement in providing security and support to the lead agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
General Ndagi remarked that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya placed a high premium in the overall adherence to the code of conduct and Rules of Engagement streamlined for troops of the Nigerian Army, as regards the ongoing general elections. As such, the teams had also visited Headquarters Theatre Command OPHK in order to drive home the message of the COAS, to ensure troops operated as expected.
In a similar vein, Brigadier General AG Nura from AHQ Department of Standards and Evaluation, added that the visit was also to evaluate the overall conduct of the ongoing Operation.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Major General Waidi Shaibu affirmed that elections are a cardinal point in the history of any nations, and as such, Operation Safe Conduct was envisioned to ensure the will of the people prevailed, as well as to see that troops provide the needed security corridors for all stakeholders to perform their duties as expected, while equally maintaining high level of professionalism and discipline throughout the Exercise.
The GOC informed the teams of the Division’s effort so far as seen in the provision of escorts for INEC staff to various locations within the state, and troops being placed on standby to suppport the lead agency in effectively thwarting any acts inimical to the safe conduct of the electoral process.
While assuring the team of the Division’s readiness, he commended the noble idea by AHQ to constitute the teams to monitor the conduct of operation Safe Conduct across all formations of the Nigerian Army which would serve as a watchdog on both commanders and troops in the field. He thereafter wished the team a successful exercise and safe stay in the Theatre.
