By Peter Duru

MAKURDI—The Nigerian Army has offered scholarship to 3,856 children of deceased personnel, who died in the line of duty, to cover those in primary, secondary and tertiary institution in the 2015/2016 academic year.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who disclosed this at the Chief of Army Staff combined Second and Third Quarter 2016 Conference in Makurdi yesterday, said the measure became necessary because the welfare of troops and their families remained a leadership priority in managing the affairs of the Nigerian Army.

He said: “The Army will continue to sustain the sponsorship of the education of the children of deceased personnel in Nigerian Army schools and other local institutions despite the sharp increase in the number of beneficiaries.

“This increase though is as a result of the rise in the number of casualties in the various operations engaged by the Army, particularly Operation Lafia Dole.

“Today, security indices have the propensity to spill into a large scale violence of unimaginable dimension if not contained. In this regard, the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate to ensure security must be professionally and responsively conducted.

“I will, therefore, spare no effort to ensure that our troops adhere to rules of engagement, code of conduct and respect for human rights in the course of discharging their duties.

“The Nigerian Army will therefore continue its relentless endeavour to ensure effective service delivery through value reorientation, exemplary leadership, patriotism, innovation, high standard of training operational efficiency and discipline.”

In his speech, Governor Samuel Ortom, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Benson Abounu, commended the Army in its dogged fight to check the activities of militants and insurgents in parts of the country.

Declaring the conference open, the Minister of Defense, Mohammed Ali, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Adebayo Olorinsakin, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the Army.

He said his ministry would continue to support the force to sustain the gains recorded in it operations.