The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja during a visit to Niger State, has encouraged the troops of the Nigerian Army not to allow their morale dwindle – but to defend Nigeria and recover the space currently occupied by terrorists and bandits in parts of the country.

His speech comes following troops’ ambush by insurgents in the Zungeru general area of the state, and the reported crash of a Helicopter on evacuation mission in Shiroro LGA.

The COAS was at the Forward Operating Base, Erena; in the Shiroro area of the state, where he was briefed on the current security situation by Maj Gen Bamidele Alabi, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division.

Addressing the troops soon after the briefing, the COAS urged them to rally together and be more resolute in bringing the nation’s adversaries to their knees and restore sanity in troubled areas.