Bayelsa State chapter of theNigerian Legion has solicited the federal government approval to join the fight against the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The call was made by the State chairman of the legionnaires, Igirigi Effiong, at the weekend during the passing out parade ceremony of Batch “A’ Cadet Officers of the Nigerian Legion Corps Commissionaires.
Daily Independent reports that the chairman, who is a retired army officer, revealed that the legionnaires comprised trained security men with tactical experience that could be deploy to combat insurgency currently bedeviling the country.
“There are trained military officers and men of the military intelligence that can be of great importance to the security of Bayelsa and Nigeria in general. Give a retired soldier a conducive environment and he will perform excellently well” Effiong said.
The legion chairman, however, decried both the Federal Government and states negligence of retired military personnel. He condemned the non-payment of their 20 per cent salary increase arrears by the Federal Government despite the sacrifices they had made for the country.
Speaking also at the ceremony, Lt.-Col. Sunday Omueti (retd), the South-South Commandant of the Nigeria Legion Corps advised the Batch ‘A’ cadet officers to show high level of discipline, noting that: “the uniform is not a licence for illegalities but an instrument for the destruction of insurgency across the country.”
Omueti urged the newly passed out cadets to be courageous and assist security agencies in fighting crime and other form of insecurity in the country.
Similarly, Major Chimbuo Victor, the state Commandant of NLCC further disclosed that cadet officers were admitted into the Nigerian Legion as honorary members, adding that the decision was in line with the Nigerian Legion Act No. 119 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Victor, who also revealed that membership of the legion was in five categories, listed them as ordinary members, life members, honorary members, associate members and women auxiliary members.
The Nigerian Legion was created to cater for the welfare of ex-servicemen and persons who have distinguished themselves in the wars in which Nigeria has participated.
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