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Tag: Buratai

  • Plateau: Buratai charges troops to be aggressive against bandits

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has charged troops of `Operation Safe Haven’ to be aggressive and decisive in dealing with armed bandits and other criminal elements operating on the Plateau.

    Buratai said a situation whereby innocent citizens were waylaid, abducted and killed indiscriminately should no longer be tolerated.

    He gave the charge at a demonstration by the Special Forces newly inducted into the operation at Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

    “The Operation Safe Haven should not remain in deterrent position, but you must also be aggressive and deal with any criminal activities, especially those that are bent on disturbing the peace, killing and maiming people.

    “You are not here to protect any ethnic or religious group; we are dealing with criminals, we are interested in criminal elements and they must be deal with decisively,’’ Buratai said.

    He, however, charged them to be professional, but combat ready at all times, noting that serious challenge still remains in the state in terms of the security.

    The army chief said that the killings were still ongoing in the hinterland and other areas and directed the troops to penetrate those areas and clear the “doubt of the criminal elements.’’

    “You are deployed here not to romance the criminals; you are to deal with them decisively; anybody seen carrying arms must be dealt with decisively.

    “If you give them chance, then we will all regret it. Therefore, we cannot afford to give them chance.

    “You are very much aware of what is happening, people are waylaid on the roads, abducted and kept where it is very difficult to locate them and sometimes, they get them killed. This is unacceptable,’’ he said.

  • Army tightens noose on Boko Haram terrorists, says Buratai

    DESPITE the pocket of attacks by remnant of Boko Haram terrorists in some parts of Borno State, the army is tightening the noose on them, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said yesterday.

    The COAS urged Nigerians and people of the region not to panic as those attacks do not signal resurgence of insurgency as being insinuated in some quarters.

    He spoke with reporters at Mongunu after he monitored and coordinated onslaught against the insurgents locked in between troops’ locations in the area.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report said that the recent attacks recorded in the area, particularly at Damasak, headquarters of 145 Battalion and Gudumbali community, were mainly targeted at troops and their locations.

    While the insurgents attacked Gudumbali on September 7, they attacked Damasak on September 11, shortly after the army chief left the location, but met their waterloo.

    The attacks were believed to have been carried out by a faction of the terrorist group led by Al-Barnawi, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA).

    Unlike the Abubakar Shekau faction, the Al-Barnawi faction targets military and its locations and not soft targets (civilians).

    COAS Buratai explained that the terrorists carried out those attacks as the noose was being tightened on them.

    He noted that this was so as in the last two years, not much attention was paid to Borno North in the fight against insurgency and terrorism until now.

    The army Chief said: “The Nigerian army is now consolidating in northern part of Borno. You will agree with me that for almost two years, we have not paid attention to northern Borno, until about last year – 2017, when we directed our focus to this area.

    “We were most concerned with our efforts in southern and Central Borno, and very little in the North. But, now that we have given attention to northern Borno, especially the Lake Chad basin, we have seen the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists coming up.

    “We have seen their reactions to the way we have been dealing with them. All those attacks were as a result of closing in on them that our troops are doing.

    “We will tighten the noose around their logistics bases. But they are taking advantage of knowledge of the terrain to move in between our troops’ deployment.’’ Lt.-Gen. Buratai said the recent attacks on troops’ locations at Damasak and Gudumbali only serve to strengthen the army in terms of intelligence capability, fire power and ability to withstand challenges.

    He, however, expressed concern about the difficult terrain of the area coupled with the poor condition of roads leading to the communities.

    On the propaganda in some sections of the society, purporting a resurgence of insurgency following the recent attacks, the army chief advised those behind it to desist.

    He said: “When you say resurgence, what does that mean? We have to look at it critically. It is not something you speak about without analysing, without thinking of the consequences on the psyche of Nigerians, on psyche of the traumatised indigenes of this part of the country.’’

    The COAS Buratai accused those behind the propaganda as having ulterior motive.

    He said: “In this type of propaganda they want these people to perpetually remain in IDPs camps and for certain individuals to continue to be suppliers of relief materials and at the end, not even the IDPs do benefit fully from those materials.

    “Those who benefit are somewhere else and we want this to continue in our country. Certain things must be done with limit’.

    “We must get it right, this is our country. Anything that happens here – Northeast, if not contained, be rest assured, it will go round our country.

    “The rumour going on is being propagated to score some cheap interests, whether social, economic, political or whatever.

    “If such propaganda is not contained, it will consume even those who feel they are untouchable,’’ he said.

    On troops’ rotation, Buratai also urged Nigerians not to pressurise the army over the issue.

    He said although the army was addressing the issue, “you just cannot say that soldiers must be rotated anyhow.

    “You cannot use the issue of rotation to pressurise the army. We have our system of relief and we will adhere to it. We have system of leave and passes, casual leave, annual leave, compassionate leave and passes are granted.

    “I think we better get it right. Some people may not understand but I believe those that are reasonable and responsible will understand.’’

    Buratai clarified that rotation “has to do with national security and not politics’’ as the army was apolitical and will remain so.

  • Army tightens noose against Boko Haram terrorists, says Buratai

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has said in spite of pocket of attacks by remnant of Boko Haram terrorists in Borno North, the army is tightening the noose against them.

    Buratai, therefore, urged Nigerians and people of the region in particularly not to panic as those attacks do not signal resurgence of insurgency as being insinuated in some quarters.

    He spoke in an interaction session with journalists at Mongunu after he personally monitored and coordinated onslaught against the insurgents locked in between troops’ locations in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recent attacks recorded in the area, particularly at Damasak, headquarters of 145 Battalion and Gudumbali community, were mainly targeted at troops and their locations.

    While the insurgents attacked Gudumbali on September 7, they attacked Damasak on September 11, shortly after the army chief left the location, but met their waterloo.

    The attacks were believed to have been carried out by a faction of the terrorist group led by Al-Barnawi, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA).

    Unlike the Abubakar Shekau faction, the Al-Barnawi faction targets military and its locations and not soft target (civilians).

    Buratai explained that the terrorists carried out those attacks as the noose was being tightened against them and couple with the fact of their knowledge of the terrain in those areas.

    He noted that this was so as in the last two years, not much attention was paid to Borno North in the fight against insurgency and terrorism until now.

    “The Nigerian army is now consolidating in northern part of Borno. You will agree with me that for almost two years, we have not paid attention to northern Borno, until about last year – 2017, when we directed our focus to this area.

    “We were most concern with our efforts in southern and Central Borno, and very little in the north.

    “But now that we have given attention to northern Borno, especially the Lake Chad basin, we have seen the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists coming up.

    “We have seen their reactions to the way we have been dealing with them. All those attacks were as a result of closing in on them that our troops are doing.

    “We will tighten the noose around their logistics bases. But they are taking advantage of knowledge of the terrain to move in between our troops’ deployment,’’ he said.

    Buratai said the recent attacks on troops’ locations at Damasak and Gudumbali only serve to strengthen the army in terms of intelligence capability, fire power and ability to withstand challenges.

    He, however, expressed concern about the difficult terrain of the area couple with the poor condition of roads leading to the communities.

    On the propaganda in some sections of the society, purporting a resurgence of insurgency following the recent attacks, the army chief advised those behind it to desist.

    “When you say resurgence, what does that mean? We have to look at it critically.

    “It is not something you speak about without analysing, without thinking of the consequences on the psyche of Nigerians, on psyche of the traumatised indigenes of this part of the country,’’ he said.

    Buratai accused those behind the propaganda as having ulterior motive.

    “In this type of propaganda they want these people to perpetually remain in IDPs camps and for certain individuals to continue to be suppliers of relief materials and at the end, not even the IDPs do benefit fully from those materials.

    “Those who benefit are somewhere else and we want this to continue in our country?’’ he asked, and cautioned that “certain things must be done with limit’’.

    “We must get it right, this is our country. Anything that happens here – North East, if not contained, be rest assured, it will go round our country.

    “The rumour going on is being propagated to score some cheap interests, whether social, economic, political or whatever.

    “If such propaganda is not contained, it will consume even those who feel they are untouchable,’’ he said.

    On troops’ rotation, Buratai also urged Nigerians not to pressurise the army over the issue.

    He said although the army was addressing the issue, “you just cannot say that soldiers must be rotated anyhow.

    “You cannot use the issue of rotation to pressurise the army.

    “We have our system of relief and we will adhere to it. We have system of leave and passes, casual leave, annual leave, compassionate leave and passes are granted.

    “I think we better get it right. Some people may not understand but I believe those that are reasonable and responsible will understand.’’

    Buratai clarified that rotation “has to do with national security and not politics’’ as the army was apolitical and will remain so.

  • Army pledges to defend Nigeria – Buratai

    Damasak, the location of 145 Batallion of the Nigerian Army remained calm on Thursday after troops inflicted heavy casualty on the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The insurgents attack the location on Wednesday at about 6p. m. but withdrew about 11p. m. following superior fire power of the troops.

    In the last 24 hours, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has been in the North-East monitoring ongoing operations.

    He visited Damask on Tuesday and proceeded to Gudumbali, where the terrorists attacked troops locations on Friday.

    Buratai vowed that the military will continue to defend the country and protect its people against attacks, whether external or internal.

    He said such incident would not deter the military as it was common in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.

    Already, the army chief said the Operation Lafiya Dole, coordinating the counter insurgency operations in the North-East was being reorganised and reinvigorated to address identified challenges.

    He said this was part of strategies being adopted to prevent recurrence of such attack

    The insurgents, which attacked military locations in around the town, were believed to belong to the faction led by Al Barnawi, which had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in West Africa or ISWA.

    However, a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was on the motorcade of the army chief observed that contrary to media publication, the terrorists did not touch any structure in the town, except one troops’ location.

    According to some residents of Gudumbali, who turned out in large numbers to welcome the army chief, the terrorists stormed the town at about 4p. m. on Friday and began to extort money from market women and loot food items.

    NAN also gathered that the troops immediately engaged the attackers, but beat a tactical withdrawal before regrouping to repell them.

    Mrs Zainab Wakil, a resident, explained that they came at a time when the community market which holds on every Friday was still in session.

    “They – terrorists did not attack us, but extort money from us and ordered us to stop trading. We left our wares and ran into the bush.

    “We were in the bush until Saturday morning. We came out after we noticed that soldiers, who withdrew had came out to chase away the insurgents,” she said.

    Wakil maintained that the Boko Haram terrorists did not attack or kill any of the villagers before they fled at about 1a. m. on Saturday.

    Mr Kachala Aliyu, another resident of Gudumbali, also told newsmen that the insurgents did not kill anybody in the town.

    Aliyu said that after extorting money and looted food stuff from the traders and disrupted trading in the market, they went straight to the troops’ location.

    Read Also: Army, Police caution IPOB over sit-at-home order

    Unlike the faction led by Abubakar Shekau, the Al Barnawi faction of the Boko Haram group targets the military and its locations in its attacks, not civilians.

    In the heat of the insurgency in 2014, the terrorists attacked troops in Gudumbali, where the army suffered heavy casualties, and razed the community. It was recaptured in 2015.

    The army had set up a cenotaph in the community, which was inaugurated by the Chief of Army staff in July, to immortalise officers and soldiers, who paid the supreme price in the fight to liberate Gudumbali.

    Residents of the town, who were displaced since 2014 began to return to the farming community in June after the army launched: “Operation Last Hold” in May.

    The exercise was designed to facilitate the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno North and Lake Chad Basin, to their ancestral homes.

    Gudumbali is located at about over 250km of Northern Borno, but just 25km to Niger Republic.

  • Mutineers, fifth columnists will face the full wrath of the law-Buratai

    An undisclosed number of fifth columnists and indicted officers in the recent mutiny in Borno State are already facing a court martial in accordance with the laws setting up the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has disclosed.
    Speaking at an interactive session with Editors in Abuja on Thursday, the Army Chief explained that it was unfortunate that officers could disregard an order to move a particular place knowing that such action would not be tolerated in a disciplined organisation like the Nigeria Army.
    He said while it was impossible to rule out sabotage within the Army, those found wanting would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the military laws.
    “We have been working to ensure that those caught for sabotaging our operations are court martialed and the appropriate actions have been meted on them in line with the rules setting us up.
    ” We will continue to identify bad eggs and deal with them accordingly. We believe officers should uphold our code of conduct. When anyone is caught sabotaging us, such a person will be dealt with in accordance with the military laws.”
    On officers who went on the rampage in Borno over posting, he said:”It is unimaginable that disciplined trroop will behave in that way. Those that have been found to be involved have been caught and they would be dealt with in accordance to our own laws.
    ‘They were directed to execute a plan and if, for whatever reason, they refused to do that, they would be dealt with. They were not the only ones that were moved. So, why should their own be different? Out welfare programme has always been comprehensive and that is what it is. “
    On what the Army is doing to ensure peace in the North East, Buratai said while relative peace has returned to the region, there exist pockets of attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents especially from neighboring countries.
    He said the Army has evolved a non-kinetic programme called the Community Resilience or Stabilization whereby key leaders, chiefs and religious heads would be encouraged to change the negative narratives and ideologies of the insurgents with the propagation of the ideologies of communal living, social cohesion and resilience.
    On efforts to deactivate mines in the communities to ensure the safety of the displaced persons who are already returning to their various towns and villages, Buratai said a small team of experts from the United Nations is already in the country to assist the country in the de-mining effort.

  • Buratai cautions troops against social media use

    Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has cautioned troops on the use of the social media, saying they should not allow it to jeopardize their fight against the Boko Haram and other criminal elements threatening the peace and security of the nation.

    Gen. Buratai sounded the warning to frontline troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade, Nigerian Army Special Forces, operating in Buni Yadi, Yobe state.

    According to a statement signed by Army Spokesperson Brig. Gen Texas Chukwu, the Army Chief urged the troops to refrain from inappropriate use of the social media, saying it could expose them to their enemies and put them in grave danger.

    Brig Gen Chukwu said the Army Chief was represented by the Commander Corps Signals, Maj. Gen  Temidayo Olukoju.

    The statement reads: “Troops of   27 Task Force Brigade and Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Buni Yadi, Yobe  State  have been advised on the wrong use of social media.

    “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai gave the advice during a visit to the troops in frontline as  part of activities marking this year’s Eid-el- kabir celebration.

    “He urged the troops to desist from inappropriate use of the social media, saying that such practice could expose them to  adversaries and danger which could put the operation into jeopardy.

    “The COAS who was  represented by the Commander Corps of Signals, Major General Temidayo Olukoju, expressed satisfaction on the conduct of the troops.

    “He enjoined them to maintain high level of alertness and be discipline at all times. He stressed further that such would enable them clear the remnant of Boko Haram  terrorists in the North East in particular and nation in general. “

  • Buratai’s transparency turned the tide against  Boko Haram terrorists — Researcher 

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS),  Lieutnant General  TY Buratai, has continued to receive commendations for his transparent handling of the war against terrorism in the country.
    The most recent of these commendations came from a researcher in conflict prevention and management, Dr. Ifure Ifure who has acknowleged that the transparency of the COAS is responsible for the recent turn of the tide against  Boko Haram in their campaign against the Nigerian state.
    Dr.  Ifure who is also the Secretary  General of the Centre for International and Strategic Studies Abuja, made this known to newsmen against the backdrop of publications by some cyber terrorists alleging corruption in the military.
    According to him, such persons behind the publication usually  sit in the comfort of their homes to make spurious allegations against the militray and must be seen by Nigerians as enemies of humanity even as such persons do not mean well for the country.
    “this kind of propaganda is the handiwork of anarchist who have continued to benefit from the crisis around the nation and have vowed to ensure the terror continues.  Their comments are aimed at discrediting the army and further causing disaffection for their own pecuniary reasons”. He said.
    He noted that the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and other armed conflicts took a totally new dimension when Lieutenant General Buratai came on board as Chief of Army Staff,  acknowledging that the COAS was able to totally overhaul the entire Nigerian Army in its operations and approach to the war against terrorism.
    The conflict resolution expert said it took the Buhari administration less than one year to achieve the necessary milestones and begin to post the positive results  because of the Army chief’s transparency and how critical the management of financial resources is to the operation of the military anywhere in the world.
    Speaking further he said, LT Gen Buratai therefore saw the need to usher in key reforms in terms of financial management and control, civil-military relations and boosting the morale of troops through very robust welfare for  soldiers and officers embarking on operations.
    Ifure while commending the military command, also hinted that all the service Chiefs have demonstrated enough zeal and capacity to help President Buhari see to the fulfillment of his campaign promises to Nigerians and deserve to be supported especially at a time that it looks like the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria have modified their operations.
    “We definitely need to support the military and the service Chiefs because a lot of evil is being perpetuated in the land and only a collective action would save the nation from collapse. He added.

  • Buratai, others for book presentation

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai is to chair the public presentation of a new novel titled: “Barracks Boy”.

    The book, to be unveiled at the Afe Babalola Complex,

    University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba on Saturday, will have the House Committee Chairman on Rules and Business,   Emmanuel Orker Jev, as the guest of honour.

    Other dignitaries expected at the event are Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, the Chairman, Middle Belt Forum,

    Lagos State branch, Chief Ode Ochi, prolific poet, Prof. Moses Tsenongu of the Benue State University, Makurdi, ace presenter, Charles Erukaa of Channels Television, Arts Editor of The Sun Newspaper, Mr. Henry Akubuiro, among others.

    Barracks Boy is a pan-African novel that has aptly captured the gregarious life of the typical Nigerian Army barracks through the

    eyes of Terna, a barracks boy.

    Barracks Boy is written by journalist and former Secretary, Association

    of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Benue State chapter, Yanor Nyigbem Kukwa, himself a barracks boy.

  • Buratai hails troops’ determination for victory

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has hailed the determination of troops towards ensuring victory and destruction of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

    Gen. Buratai, who addressed troops after observing Eid prayers at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State, acknowledged their determination to suppress other forms of aggression and insecurity in the country.

    The COAS, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, said: “Eid-el-Adha, which signifies the festival of sacrifice and obedience, reminds us of the sacrifices of our troops in the ongoing operations, especially against terrorism and insurgency.

    “I must acknowledge your doggedness and determination toward ensuring victory and destruction of remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents, as well as suppressing other forms of aggression and insecurity in our country.

    “I charge you to remain focused, disciplined and loyal to constituted authorities at all times, while ensuring that we carry out our roles professionally and effectively.

    “I also urge you to be committed, dedicated, resilient and courageous in the discharge of your assigned duties.”

    The COAS reassured the troops of the commitment and support of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to provide them with the necessary welfare and logistics needs to perform their duties.

    He also reassured them that the Army high command would continue to provide them “the very best working environment that would bring out the best in them” and wished them happy celebration.

  • Buratai, 49 senior officers take language test

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai and 49 senior officers on Wednesday at the Army Headquarters, Abuja took a language proficiency test in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages.

    Brig.-Gen Texas Chukwu, the army spokesman, said the test was part of the army’s effort to ensure that all personnel are proficient in the use of the three major Nigerian languages.

    Chukwu said the test came after eight months of intensive lecture organised by the army headquarters for the senior officers.

    He said the belief in the army was that understanding those languages would aid troops during internal security operations across the country.

    “This will also enhance mutual cooperation between the army and the general public.” Chukwu said the senior officers that participated in the test included Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders, Directors, among others.

    He quoted Buratai as commending the officers for their conduct throughout the period of the test.

    The army chief said the result of the test will be announced soon and urged them to prepare for another exam next week.

    Buratai upon assumption of office in 2015, enjoined all personnel to learn the three major Nigerian languages as part of a deliberate effort to improve communication skill among troops.