•Ex-CDS gets Senate confirmation as Defence Minister
By Uche Onyeali, Abuja
Former ,Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, Retd” has vowed to investigate the withdrawal of troops before the attack on the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that armed bandits on November 17 this year stormed the school, killing two staff and abducted 25 students.
Though one of the students was able to escape soon after.
During his ministerial screening at the Senate yesterday, General Musa, the immediate-past Chief of Defence Staff who was eventually confirmed yesterday by the Senate, after his nomination by President Bola Tinubu, vowe that once he assumes office as Defence Minister, he would set up a committee to probe the withdrawal of troops and the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba.
General Uba, who was the commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade in the North-East, was intercepted by terrorists of the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, following an ambush during a ruotine patrol in Borno State.
President Bola Tinubu later confirmed his death in a statement released by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that troops withdrew from their duty posts before the abduction of 25 schoolgirls at the school, a development that drew widespread condemnation.
“It is very unfortunate and really painful. I want to assure Nigerians that we will not stand by and have terrorists have the capacity to do such.
“We are going to go after them fully working together with all the security agencies and ministries, departments and agencies (of government). We are going to investigate fully. The Armed Forces have a way and then from the defence, we are going to make sure that we continue with the oversight over their activities”, the new Defemce Minister said.
According to him, no act of insolence or cowardice within the armed forces will be tolerated, stressing the need for strict professionalism and pledging to strengthen oversight of military operations to ensure prompt and decisive action when required.
General Musa said one of the first things he would do was to probe the alleged withdrawal of the troops, insisting that the military is not known for cowardice.
“We are going to go after them fully, working together with all the security agencies and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (of government).
“We are going to investigate fully. The armed forces have a way, and then from the defence, we are going to make sure that we continue with the oversight over their activities”, he noted.
Meanwhile, te Senate has confirmed the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musatd) as the Minister of Defence.
The Upper Legislative Chamber confirmed Musa yesterday via a voice vote after hours of a rigorous screening session in the Committee of the Whole, during which he was asked a myriad of questions by the lawmakers.
Musa, who retired barely 40 days ago, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu as the Defence Minister on Tuesday and transmitted same to the senate for confirmation.
