The 2019 armed forces of Nigeria Directorates of chaplain services (Roman Catholic)
Chaplains' combined annual training week/conference and retreat 2019
With the Theme: THE NON-KINETIC STRENGTH IN THE FACE OF ARMED BANDITRY AND OTHER SECURITY CHALLENGES: THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY CHAPLAINS.
The ceremony was officially opened on the 22nd October, 2019
the following dignitaries where present at the opening ceremony, Military Liaison Bishop/Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Most Rev. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, Cmf, Very Rev. Fr. Nuhu Iliya Cathedral Administrator Sokoto Diocese, COAS - Lt Gen TY Buratai - Represented by the Director Department of Civil Military Affairs AHQ, Brig Gen TO Olowomeye, Brig Gen. Aminu Bande - AG Goc 81 Div NA., Chief of TRG and OPS (A) - Represented by Brig Gen. JO OChai - Director CAMPAIGN Planning - AHQ, Regional Manager Sterling Bank Plc - Ibrahim Bello Salihi, Coordinator/Director Army Chaplaincy Roman Catholic Brig Gen. CC IROEGBU, The Director Air force Group Captain PB Kwasu, The Director of Nigeria Navy - CDR RE Oparaji.
The representative of the COAS - Lt Gen TY Buratai- Director Department of Civil Military Affairs AHQ, Brig Gen TO Olowomeye gave the opening remarks and users the retreat open. Thereafter, the Coordinator/Director Army Chaplaincy Roman Catholic Brig Gen. CC IROEGBU gave the presiding of the meeting and also saying that after their retreat a communiqué will be issued at the end of the retreat. On the second day of the retreat the Armed forces in collaboration with Sterling Bank Plc pay a visit to the Internal Displaced Person (IDP) in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto. Showing them love and making them have a sense of belong in the community, food Items and clothing was shared to the IDPs a pickup of Yam, 100 Cartons of Indomie, Bags of Cloth and Shoes was distributed to them. Engaging the head of IDPs Mallam Salihu Sa'ada into conversation he complained bitterly on how their farms are being eat up by cows living them with nothing to take home. He also said the government normally come around to see them but over two to three months now they have not seen any person from the government they are just feeding from hand to mouth.
Mallam Sa'ada said "to day will be a joyful day for us, today you will see smoke in everyone house because we don't know when last we hold yam with our hands talk more of eaten it". Mallam Sa'ada been the head of the IDPs said the armed chaplain should help them in sharing the food items before leaving, if not the neighboring villagers can come and over power them and take everything from them. So the food items was distributed to everyone and they were very much happy.
