Wife of Nigeria’s Defence Chief visits frontline troops, delivers touching speech

“If The World Does Not  Appreciate You, We Your Wives Appreciate You,”

– Barrister Victoria Irabor

The wife of the Chief of Defence Staff and President of Defence and Police Wives Association (DEPOWA), Barrister Victoria Irabor, has today visited troops in the frontlines of Northeast Nigeria. 

The Visit, according to Mrs Irabor, was to show solidarity and commendation to the officers and troops of Operation Hadin Kai. 

She also said the visit was to give “our husbands” a pat on the back while urging them to keep the flag of courage and gallantry flying. 

Mrs Irabor who was accompanied by the wives of the other service chiefs and the inspector general of police said they have also come in their beautiful attire and glowing body outlook to pass a message to their frontline husbands that “all is well back in the barracks and that they should not worry for they are keeping the home front. 

“I have come here today with my sisters in collaboration with the National High Commission for Trafficking, Migration and Internally Displaced Persons ( commissioner. We thought it wise to embark on this journey. When I mention to people that we are coming, they say it’s frightening.

“We have to show boldness to show up physically and let you know that we are very proud of you. As your wives and mothers in the military community, we thought it wise to leave our comfort zone to the theatre and express our feelings to you our husbands, to let you know that we feel your feelings, we feel your pains and we understand what you go through.  We pray for you daily, but today is the day we said we should come physically to pat you on the back and give you all the encouragements you require; to let you know that all you do for the country and us to make us live in peace;  and to ensure that the country is still together; that we see it all, and we know all. If the world does not appreciate you, we your wives appreciate you. We do not only appreciate what you do; we are very proud of you. We are proud of the uniform. 

“It is our prayer that God will continue to strengthen you.

“Your wives and children at home are doing well. Our appearance here in beautiful attire all is well at home and be rest assured that your families are doing well.”

The DEPOWA President was also accompanied by the Federal Commissioner of the  National  High Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim.

Mrs Irabor said they were together with the Federal Commissioner to attend her Commission’s ‘Zero Hunger programme’ which tends to provide food palliative to widows of fallen heroes as well as IDPs.

Earlier, the Theater Commander Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa, thanked the DEPOWA President for visiting the troops in the frontline, stressing that such visitation would further boost the morale of the officers and soldiers. 

“The troops will continue to push on, till the war becomes victorious, the Theater Commander said. 

General Musa also commended the Federal Commissioner of NHRMIDP for ” good work” her commission has been doing, even as he described the effort as part of the non-kinetic aspect of the counterinsurgency operations in the NOrtheast region.

The Theater Commander informed the women that  “asymmetric warfare is extremely difficult due to the challenge of the terrain and the expanse of land troops have to cover at a time”. 

He however acknowledged that “the visit forms part of the non-kinetic aspects of the operation.”

General Musa also seized the occasion to commend the Commander In Chief, the minister of Defence, CDS, as well as the army, air force and naval chiefs for their commitment and effective commands  down the ladder, which he said: “is helping troops to carry on.”

“All we want from you is your prayers as you keep the home front,” he said. ,