Sultan of Sokoto receives new, outgoing 8th Div GOCs, Gen Mutkut, Bassey in Palace

*Commends Bassey for stabilizing security situation in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina

*Promises support Mutkut, as Army warns personnel against interfering with politics

By BASHIR ADEFAKA monitoring from Lagos

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has rained his royal blessings upon the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) Eighth Division Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major General Uweim Bassey, for stabilizing the security challenges within the Division Area of Operation for the period he commanded.

The DEFENDER reports that area of operation of Eighth Division Nigerian Army, created as activities bandits sparked and were becoming almost untamable by ordinary intervention in the North West region, covers Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar gave the commendation during a joint courtesy visit of the two Army Generals, Umeim Bassey and the new GOC Godwin Mutkut, to the Nigeria’s number one monarch at the Council Chamber of the Sultan’s Palace in Sokoto, on Wednesday January 18, 2023.

During the visit, General Bassey introduced General Mutkut to the Sultan as the new General Officer Commanding for the 8th Division as part of his handing over proceedings to his successor and thanked the monarch for his royal blessings and fatherly support for his administration of the Division during his tenure.

As-Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, himself a retired Army General, has been rendering professional advice towards efforts of the military and security agencies in ending the now subsiding insecurity in the zone as well as across the country.

On the ground of this while responding to his august visitors, Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is Chairman National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria (NTRCN) co-chaired by Ooni of Ife, commended General Bassey for his resilience and unflinching efforts as a truly capable warrior against agents of insecurity in stabilizing the situation within the four states-based area of operation.

He, therefore, wished General Bassey a successful tour of duty in his new place of assignment.

The Sultan then turned to the new GOC, Major General Godwin Mutkut, and welcomed him to the zone while urging him to intensify operations with a view to destroying and clearing the remnants of bandits hibernating in the forest within the area.

He stressed that traditional rulers would continue to pray and render all the necessary support needed for the Nigerian Army to bring lasting peace to the North West Zone.

2023 election

In the meantime, officers and men of the Nigerian Army have been charged to ensure they create an enabling and peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of free, fair and credible election and not to interfere with the electoral process in line with the charge of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya.

The outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Eighth Division Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major General Uweim Bassey, made the call during a regimental farewell parade that followed his joint courtesy visit to the Sultan, held at the Giginya Army Barracks, in his honour and to usher in the new GOC, Major General Godwin Mutkut, on Wednesday.

General Bassey charged the troops to remain professional, law abiding and apolitical before, during and after the general elections.

He solicited for support and cooperation of officers and soldiers of the Division for the new GOC to enable him succeed in the fight against terrorists and other criminal elements in all the area of responsibility of the Division.

The DEFENDER reports that while General Mutkut takes over the 8th Division, General Bassey has been redeployed to Defence Space Administration as the Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration.

A major exercise that is core to the 8th Division is Operation Hadarin Daji, which covers Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states, aiming at keeping peace in the trouble areas of the North West geopolitical zone and all of that become responsibility that new GOC has resumed work to fulfill, we gathered.

In his inaugural address, General Mutkut promised to sustain and build upon the legacies of his predecessor, while urging commanders and troops to brace-up for the enormous task ahead especially as the nation is about to witness the general election.

He stated that troops under his watch would not relent on their oars until all criminal elements within his Division’s area of operation had been flushed out from their enclaves or forced to embrace peace.

General Mutkut commended his predecessor, General Bassey, for his remarkable achievements and purposeful leadership in restoring peace and stability in his Operational Area of Responsibility.

Highpoint of the events were signing the handing and taking over notes of OPHD, Operation Hadarin Daji and Eighth Division, presentation of flags of Eighth Division and OPHD, decorating the new GOC, General Mutkut, with insignia of Eighth Division and OPHD, presentation of handing and taking over notes, regimental parade, lowering and hoisting of flags of Eighth Division flag and OPHD for the outgoing and incoming GOC/CJTF OPHD and address to officers and soldiers among others.