The newly appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Aminu Chinade, has urged his Commanders and Principal Staff Officers to remain neutral in the forthcoming general election.

Chinade also assured the people of South-East that troops of 82 Division will continue to discharge their constitutional mandate professionally.

He said this during the handing and taking over ceremony between him and the outgoing GOC, Maj-Gen Umar Musa, at Headquarters 82 Division in Enugu on Thursday.

The GOC stated that the synergy between security agencies is one of the major weapons necessary for achieving success in the defeat of criminals.

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Chinade, however, called for support from other security agencies and stakeholders in the region towards achieving the mandate of ending insecurity in the South-East.

In his remarks, Musa, who was recently posted to AHQ Department of Personnel Management as the Chief Personnel Management (Army), thanked God and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, for the opportunity to serve as GOC in 81 and 82 Divisions.

He urged Commanders and PSOs in the Division to extend the same support they gave him to the new GOC, adding that the challenges of insecurity in the South-East is not just IPOB activities but also include other criminal activities.

He further urged stakeholders and the people of the region to provide necessary information that could help security agencies to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

The high point of the event was the signing and exchange of handing and taking over notes, decoration of the new GOC with 82 Division insignia, handing over of the command flag to the new GOC, and hoisting of the new flag at the quarter guard.

Charles Ezugwu

The Star