By Linus Aleke
Nigerian Army on Wednesday gave reason for the choice of the southeast for this year’s Army Day celebration, saying that security threats cannot deter it from commemorating its 159 years of existence anywhere in the country.

The Chief of Civil Military Affairs (Army), Major General Markus Kangye said this during an interactive session with defence correspondents in Abuja after, a press briefing by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya to herald the 2022 Army Day celebration, billed to hold in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.

The Chief of Civil Military Affairs who was responding to a question on whether the choice of Imo State was to tackle the unknown gunmen phenomenon in the southeast, said that its decision to celebrate this year’s Army Day in Imo State has nothing to do with insecurity.

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He noted that every part of the country is safe for the Nigerian Army to commemorate its anniversary.

Reiterating the views of Major General Kangye, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu recalled that in 2017, the Nigerian Army commemorated its 154th anniversary in Monguno, notwithstanding the activities of Boko Haram in the northeast at the time.

The Army spokesperson said that as an instrument of power, national integration and development, the Nigerian Army needs to be celebrated.

Noting that the Nigerian Army Day celebration provides opportunity for the service to do some introspection on its operations, achievements and shortfalls, Gen. Nwachukwu said that Nigerian Army should be praised for its continuous support to the democratic governance in the country.

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Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, represented by Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Anthony Bamidele Omozoje said that Army Day celebration is a very important event in the calendar of the Nigeria Army.

He said that the Nigerian Army will collaborate with sister agencies and other security agencies to deny terrorists and other criminal elements in the country freedom of action.

While itemizing the events lined up for the celebration, the COAS said that NA will showcase products of its research and development at the grand finale in Owerri.