Shun Drug Abuse/Consumption of Illicit Drugs to Avoid Depression – GOC Charges Troops 

The General Officer Commanding (GOC)1 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Maj Gen Kabir Mukhtar has charged officers and soldiers in 1 Division Area of Responsibility to shun drug abuse and consumption of illicit drugs to avoid depression related issues.

Gen Mukhtar gave the charge on 28 July 2022 during an awareness lecture organised by AHQ Department of Army Transformation and Innovation (DATI) on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the Division Auditorium.

He also urged Commanders and other Senior officers to sensitize troops under them on the need to avoid taking substances that could lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He enjoined all participants to take advantage of the awareness lecture to derive maximum benefits.

In his remarks, The Deputy Chief of Transformation and Innovation and Team Leader of the Delegation, Maj Gen AA Ariyibi said that the essence of the lecture was to create awareness on PTSD and its effect on NA troops.

While citing instances where troops killed their comrades and later shot themselves, he stressed on the need for Commanders to always interact with their troops so as to assess their mental health and other immediate problems. 
 
Lectures were delivered by a professional psychologist from AHQ DATI on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Common Traumatic Experiences in the North East, Causative factors of PTSD, Complications of PTSD, Assisting Fellow Soldiers and Management Considerations of PTSD amongst others.