By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Despite the recent wave of coups across the West African sub-region, the Armed Forces of the largest democracy in Africa, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, have reiterated their commitment to the defence and protection of democratic principles.
The country’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, made the pledge during the opening of the first-ever Chief of Defence Staff’s Joint Task Force Commanders Conference at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Nigerian Armed Forces are always ready to respond when needed, the CDS declared even as he posited that the conference was timely and critical.
The gathering he stated is an opportunity to revamp the efforts of the military against terrorism, improve relations with communities, and encourage the sharing of intelligence among the Armed Forces.
He also took a moment to express gratitude to the brave men and women serving in various theatre commands, assuring them that the injured would receive proper treatment and the families of those who lost their lives would be looked after.
A wave of coup in recent times has forcefully dislodged democratically elected governments across various African countries, with Niger and Gabon being latest in the list.
Regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has insisted that it is poised to the reinstatement of constitutional order in the affected countries, a vow it followed with imposition of sanctions on affected countries.