The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has vowed that the Nigerian Army will never allow any part of the country to be controlled by insurgent.

The Army Chief made this statement at the Chief of Army Staff’s First Quarters Conference, Abuja, on Monday. He said the challenges faced by the Nigerian Army only highlighted the resilience and the quality of perseverance of the Nigerian people. he commended Nigerians for their continuing support for the military in spite of the initial recorded by the Army against the insurgents.

Minimah said the Army was drawing inspiration from the ordinary Nigerians and invited them to join the Army’s new battle cry in the ongoing counter terrorism, counter insurgency operation in the north east.

“I want to seize this opportunity to express the Nigerian Army’s profound appreciation to all Nigerians who have stood by us through thick and thin particularly in the last one year. The challenges that we continue to face have again brought to the fore, the strength, perseverance, long suffering and resilience of the Nigerian nation and her people.

“Despite some of the reverses we suffered in the course of our operations some of which almost brought the Nigerian Army to its knees, the good people of this country never wavered but consistently stood and identified with us.

“They are understandably frustrated when we fail to perform to expectation but are always quick to show their support and appreciation of our successes. I think this has been the tempo in the last four weeks. Nigerians have come out to identify with the Nigerian military, the Nigerian Army and the security agencies.

“I salute all Nigerians for identifying with us; it is from them that we continue to draw inspirations and I want to invite them to our battle cry, that never again shall we go through this process again; never again shall the Nigerian Army be humiliated the way we have been humiliated; never again.”