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Tag: chief of army staff

  • Boko Haram will soon become history, vows COAS

    Boko Haram will soon become history, vows COAS

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Yusuf Buratai has said the issue of Boko Haram terrorists would soon become a thing of the past, saying the army is winning the fight against the insurgents in the North-East.

    General Buratai made the promise yesterday, at the Government House Owerri, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Rochas Okorocha, along with other senior military officers, including the GOC, 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu, Major-General Attahiru.

    The COAS said the team was in the state as part of a familiarization tour of the Army Brigade in the state, with a view to knowing their challenges.

    He added that the visit had been delayed by the situation in the North-east which has kept him busy in the area.

    In a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, the army boss said that the Nigerian Army would continue in its present role of monitoring elections in the country until it is served   with the copy of the court order barring soldiers from engaging in such roles.

    He also expressed appreciation for the support the state government has given to the army brigade, which he said had contributed to the stable security situation in the state.

    While receiving his guests, Governor Rochas Okorocha appealed to the Army Chief to send more operational vehicles and other logistics to the 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze to enable the soldiers perform their role more effectively, especially now that Imo has become the fastest growing city in the country outside Lagos and Abuja.

    The governor also pleaded with General Buratai to give approval for the Army to build a Military School in the state, assuring that the state government would provide the land and other logistics.

  • Chief of Army Staff visits troops in Bama

    Chief of Army Staff visits troops in Bama

    • Promotes two for gallantry

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, is spending the weekend with troops deployed in  the  battle against Boko Haram in Borno State, including Sambisa forest where the insurgents once held sway.

    He has already visited the soldiers in Bama, Konduga, Awulari and Kwanar Banki as part of the efforts to boost their morale.

    The troops liberated Bama from Boko Haram insurgents on March 16, 2015.

    Lt. Colonel Aminu Iliyasu of the Directorate of Army Public Relations said in a statement yesterday that Buratai’s core message to those involved in the campaign code named Operation Lafiya Dole is that they must sustain the push against the insurgents.

    Ilyasu quoted the Chief of Army Staff as saying: “Nigerians are proud of you, Mr President is proud of you. We must continue to make them proud as you are better trained and better equipped than the terrorists.”

    Buratai reminded the soldiers of the mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the pockets of Boko Haram terrorists within their area by December.

    Highlight of the visit was the on-the-spot promotion and decoration of two soldiers for their gallantry, dedication and loyalty.

    Elevated were Thomas Orim of 202 Battalion and Abubakar Usman Usman of 150 Task Force Battalion both of whom were promoted to the rank of corporal.

  • Army Chief commends NIMASA for combating piracy

    Army Chief commends NIMASA for combating piracy

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commended the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for combating piracy and other criminal activities on Nigerian waters.

    This is contained in a statement by NIMASA’s Head of Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka, issued on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, Buratai gave the commendation while receiving the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, who paid a working visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

    The statement said Buratai pledged that the army would cooperate with NIMASA to curb criminal activities, especially in the creeks where crude oil theft and piracy were perpetrated using barges and other water crafts.

    It said the army chief also appealed to NIMASA and other corporate organisations to assist with the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    The statement quoted the army chief as saying that resettlement was important since calm was being restored to some of the communities.

    It said that Buratai noted that “this could be done through the Corporate Social Responsibility programmes in order to have them (IDPs) properly re-integrated into the society.”

    It appealed to NIMASA to engage some children of the soldiers who lost their lives in the battle against insurgency in its National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).

    The statement explained that the army chief pointed out that this would alleviate the suffering of the affected families.

    According to the statement, Jauro congratulated the Chief of Army Staff on his appointment and commended him for the successes recorded so far in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

    It called for the continuous support of the army in the fight against piracy and other criminal activities in Nigerian waters.

    It added that the partnership had been very useful in reducing the menace of piracy.

    The statement advised the management of NIMASA to take a holistic look at Jauro’s requests and come up with practical initiatives in providing solutions to them.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Chief of Army staff escapes Boko Haram ambush

    Chief of Army staff escapes Boko Haram ambush

    •Five insurgents killed •One soldier too

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai ,almost ran into a Boko Haram ambush yesterday on the Maiduguri-Dikwa road,Borno State.

    But his advance team did and lost one soldier.

    Five of the terrorists were killed by the advance team in the gun fire exchange.

    The soldiers  were on their  way to Dikwa ahead of Gen.Buratai who is currently visiting troops in towns and villages recently liberated from terrorists in the state.

    Four terrorists surrendered.

    Also during the trip,the Chief of Army arrested four other suspected Boko Haram members after picking them from the midst of herdsmen.

    As Buratai’s  convoy was made its way to Dikwa, eagle eyed soldiers grew suspicious of  some men among the herdsmen and their cattle.

    The COAS ordered the convoy to stop and got four men and an elderly Fulani man arrested.

    The Fulani man confessed during interrogation that he met the suspects   just before their arrest and had actually forced themselves on his party.

    The four  confessed that they were indeed  members of the terror sect.

    They were there and then whisked off to Maiduguri.

    The Army Chief visited Dikwa,  Mafa and Gamboru-Ngala.

    At Mafa, General Buratai commended soldiers of  the 7 Division of the army for a job well done.

    He  assured them of  improved welfare and allowances.

    He however told the  soldiers that  “there is still more job to be done and we have to do this once and for all so that all of us can go back to our respective barracks and continue with our normal jobs as soldiers”.

    In Dikwa  the COAS  was welcome with cheers by over 4000 internally displaced persons from Gamboru and neighbouring towns, who were full of praises and prayers for him and his soldiers.

    Buratai who addressed them  in Kanuri pledged that  that they would soon be resettled as his troops are working round the clock  to rid the area of terrorists.

    In Ngala town, the Army chief met jubilant troops   celebrating the liberation of the area.

    He was accompanied by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Baba Abubakar who made the trip by air.

  • Five Boko Haram men killed in ambush of Army chief’s team

    Five suspected members of Boko Haram were on Saturday killed by soldiers after opening fire on an advance team of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai on the Maiduguri-Dikwa road,Borno State in an ambush.
    The soldiers were on their way to Dikwa ahead of Gen.Buratai who is currently visiting troops in towns and villages recently liberated from terrorists in the state.
    One of the soldiers lost his life while four terrorists surrendered.
    During the trip, the Chief of Army also arrested four other suspected Boko Haram members after picking them from the midst of herdsmen.
    As Buratai’s convoy made its way to Dikwa, eagle eyed soldiers grew suspicious of some men among the herdsmen and their cattle.
    The COAS ordered the convoy to stop and got four men and an elderly Fulani man arrested.
    The Fulani man confessed during interrogation that he met the suspects just before their arrest and had actually forced themselves on his party.
    The four confessed that they were indeed members of the terror sect and whisked off to Maiduguri.

  • Photo: Decoration of new service chiefs

    Photo: Decoration of new service chiefs

    L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari; and Wife of the Chief of Defence Staff Mrs. Omobolanle Olonisakin Jointly decorating Chief of Defence Staff; General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin with his New Rank during the Decoration Ceremony of the new Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari; and Wife of the Chief of Defence Staff Mrs. Omobolanle Olonisakin Jointly decorating Chief of Defence Staff; General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin with his New Rank during the Decoration Ceremony of the new Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; Chief of Air Staff; Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Defence Staff; General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief of Army Staff; Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai and Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Marshal Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas during the decoration Ceremony of the New Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; Chief of Air Staff; Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Defence Staff; General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief of Army Staff; Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai and Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Marshal Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas during the decoration Ceremony of the New Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari; wife of Chief of Naval Staff, Mrs. Theresa Ibas and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Jointly decorating Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Marshal Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas with his new Rank during the Decoration Ceremony of the New Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari; wife of Chief of Naval Staff, Mrs. Theresa Ibas and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Jointly decorating Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Marshal Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas with his new Rank during the Decoration Ceremony of the New Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; Wife of Chief of Air Staff; Mrs. Hafsat Sadique Abubakar; Wife of Chief of Naval Staff; Theresa Ekwe Ibas; Wife of Chief of Army Staff; Mrs. Umma Kalsum Tukur Buratai and Wife of the Chief of Defence Staff Mrs. Omobolanle Olonisakin, during the decoration Ceremony of the New Service Chiefs, at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; Wife of Chief of Air Staff; Mrs. Hafsat Sadique Abubakar; Wife of Chief of Naval Staff; Theresa Ekwe Ibas; Wife of Chief of Army Staff; Mrs. Umma Kalsum Tukur Buratai and Wife of the Chief of Defence Staff Mrs. Omobolanle Olonisakin, during the decoration Ceremony of the New Service Chiefs, at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday

     

    L-R; Chief of Air Staff; Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Marshal Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Army Staff; Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai and Chief of Defence Staff; General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; during the decoration Ceremony, by the President Mhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday
    L-R; Chief of Air Staff; Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Marshal Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Army Staff; Lt. General Tukur Yusufu Buratai and Chief of Defence Staff; General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; during the decoration Ceremony, by the President Mhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday