By KINGSLEY OMONOBI
ABUJA — Against the backdrop of continued terrorists attacks and killings in the country, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, said yesterday in Abuja that 2,000 combatant soldiers were being  trained by experts on counter terrorism and other terrorism challenges in Jaji and Kachia.

Gen. Ihejirika made the disclosure at the opening of a two-day Nigerian Army Transformation Stakeholders Conference, with the theme: Enhancing the Implementation Strategy for Nigerian Army Transformation.

Explaining that the training was one of the innovations of the army to combat the present security challenges facing the country, the COAS said, “The army believes strongly that once human capacity is developed to the required level, every other thing will fall in place”.

According to the Army Chief, the Nigerian Army has gone ahead to put in place, a monitoring team to move from place to ensure that soldiers do their jobs professionally.

On complaints about military personnel involving themselves in acts that are inimical to the image of the Nigeria Army, the Army Chief disclosed that any complains arising from the performance of soldiers were usually investigated promptly and actions taken.

He added that there was no reason whatsoever for any soldier deployed either on the highway or in any part of the country to indulge in bribe taking of any form because they are paid allowances.

On the issue of impersonation by criminals using army uniform to crime, Gen Ihejirika explained that the army does not have control over military uniform because of the way they come in.

He said: ”Apart from our porous borders, the army is not also at the port to ensure that such things do not come into the country.

“As I stand here I have given out instructions to compel officers to avail themselves to searches because it is by doing so they will encourage soldiers to search anybody  no matter how dressed.” he said.

Ihejirika added that the army requires cooperation from the public in this regard.