Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai says the  Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2018 taking off in Borno State was to showcase the weapon capacity and capability of the Nigerian Army amid security challenges in the country.

Gen. Buratai who just flagged off the 2018 celebration at a press conference in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, said the Army would demonstrate its fire-power and hold exhibition of equipment at Monguno in the northern part of the state where it currently conducts special operation codenamed Operation LAST HOLD.

The Army chief said the celebration, which came into being after the Civil War in 1976, would also feature Juma’at (Friday) prayers and Interdenominational service at Maimalari Cantonment of the Nigerian Army on Sunday, July 1.

“We are holding the celebration in Borno to consolidate our successes in the fight against Boko Haram. The situation that was prevailing in this part of the country in 2014 and 2015 was so grave but the Nigerian Army is making sacrifices for the unity of this country.

“We want to show that the Nigerian Army has lived up to its bidding by degrading Boko Haram,” Gen. Buratai said.

The Army Day celebration had previously been held in Abuja and other states in the country.