The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, has warned troops to desist from substance abuse, misuse of social media and other related vices.
He gave the warning during his visit to 12 Brigade Area of Responsibility (AOR) from September 2 to 4, 2026, as part of his maiden operational tour of formations and units under his command.
He was received on arrival by the Commander, 12 Brigade, Chari Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja, Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, who briefed him on the operational activities within the Brigade’s AOR.
Speaking during the visit, the GOC, Major General Mahmuda, commended the commander and his troops for the tremendous operational successes recorded, particularly the recent rescue of 15 National Youth Service Corps members and six civilians abducted in Kogi State.
He further thanked them for their efforts in keeping Kogi and adjoining states safe and calm for socio-economic activities to thrive. He said this was responsible for the sharp decrease in criminal activities.
The GOC emphasised the strategic importance of Kogi State as a corridor to the eastern and southern parts of the country, urging the troops to sustain the operational tempo by ensuring that the state remains peaceful and calm.
Relatedly, the GOC visited the 21 Battalion Headquarters, Ayingba, in Dekina Local Government Area, where he was received by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Godiya Solomon Monde.
He addressed the troops and commended them for their resilience and dedication to duty, which he said had translated into several operational exploits. He said this had brought sanity to Kogi East and glory to the fatherland.
He urged them to sustain the operational tempo by denying criminal elements freedom of action. The GOC underscored the importance of discipline, adding that it remains the bedrock of the Nigerian Army.
He charged them to maintain the core values of the Nigerian Army, in line with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu’s, command philosophy.
Major General Mahmuda emphasised the need for sustained operational readiness and effective collaboration with other security agencies and critical stakeholders.
