Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Army Staff, has directed all General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and other formation commanders to create a conducive and secure environment for the 2023 elections.
Yahaya issued the order while launching Operation Safe Conduct across all army divisions and formations in the country.
Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, of Army Public Relations, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The army chief reaffirmed the Nigerian army’s resolve to play its constitutional role by assisting the Nigeria Police, the lead security agency in the security architecture for the 2023 elections.
He charged the commanders to identify and dominate flash points in their Areas of Responsibility (AOR).
He added that troops must be alert, and proactive and operate jointly with sister services and other security agencies during the 2023 elections.
Yahaya also directed the commanders to deploy requisite logistics to ensure the security and safety of citizens during the elections.
He urged them to be professional, and apolitical and adhere strictly to the extant code of conduct and Rules of Engagement guiding personnel throughout their operations.
He warned that any infraction on the provisions of the Code of conduct would not be treated with levity.
The COAS maintained that all deployments must be joint and in support of the police, adding that all eyes were on the security agencies and that the citizens expected nothing short of free and fair elections.
“You must, therefore, refrain from hobnobbing with political gladiators and maintain your apolitical stance,” he said.
The media reports that the COAS had 2022 approved the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Nigerian Army personnel during Operation Safe Conduct 2023.
The COAS said it was part of efforts to ensure that the laws of the land and the personal liberties and rights of citizens were not compromised.
