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Tag: General Tukur Buratai

  • ‘Revoke Buratai’s entry visa for election violence’

    A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has asked the United State of America, United Kingdom and the European Union (EU), to honour their promises and impose visa ban on the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai and others for the involvement of the military in the just concluded general elections.

    Frank, in a petition dated 19th March, 2019 but made available to newsmen in Abuja reminded the international community of his earlier warning about “the impending danger in the plot by the APC led government to use the military and other security apparatus to rig the 2019 general elections and to perpetrate violence which is likely to lead to the killing of innocent electorates.

    “He reminded that of their promises to impose travel ban on anyone involved in electoral violence saying this was the time to fulfill such promises.

    He said “I hereby use this medium to implore you and your good offices to ensure that justice is done. In the circumstances, I enjoin you to carry out your promise of the denial, revocation and ban of visas for all the principal actors, including the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai and his cohorts and politicians who may be complacent in the said dastardly act.

    “The petition titled “The illegal use of the military to perpetrate violence and to disrupt electoral processes in Nigeria: a call for action” reads in party “You may recall that shortly before the 2019 General presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections in Nigeria, I wrote to your good offices to alert you on the impending danger in the plot by the APC led government to use the military and other security apparatus to rig the 2019 general elections and to perpetrate violence which is likely to lead to the killing of innocent electorates.

    “Most predictably, that was exactly what played out in the just  concluded 2019 General  elections in some states in Nigeria where the Nigerian Army deployed military operatives to carry out nefarious activities during the elections in favour of the ruling party even when our  Courts in Nigeria  have long  before 2019 general elections held that the military shall not be deployed anywhere in Nigeria under any guise to monitor elections which is purely a civil exercise of one’s civic right and responsibility.

    “In trying to dent and taint my public image, the Nigeria military under the leadership of General Tukur Buratai, labeled me as a propagandist of fake news in print and social media a few days ago to disparage my hard earned reputation in the eye of the general Public.

    READ ALSO: INEC ordered supplementary election unnecessary, says Timi Frank

    “However, it is worthy of note that I have been vindicated by several reports released by different groups that monitored the elections.

    “For instance, The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria faulted the intimidation of voters and election observers by security agents especially in the governorship and House of Assembly Elections. The EU EOM further condemned the violence and intimidation against the citizens and election observers by the military and security agents, including the EU observers who were denied access to collation centers especially in Rivers.

    “Another report worthy of note is that of The Joint report by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republic Institute (IRI) released on the 9th of March, 2019 as regards the governorship elections where it condemned the heavy military presence in some parts of the country. It was stated that incidents of violence and disruptions to the balloting process were observed in Lagos, Benue, Nasarawa and Rivers state. The mission further frowned at the impunity with which some electoral actors conducted themselves, including some polling agents and members of the military.

    “The executive director of Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) also alleged that military chased observers and some party agents out of the collation centers in some states.

    “INEC on its parts just released a report on the Rivers State of Nigeria governorship elections where the said INEC categorically accused the Nigeria military of being complacent with regards to the unprofessional role they played in the conduct of the said general elections. It was stated that soldiers and armed gangs invaded collation centers to disrupt the collation process in order to thwart the Will of the people which they rightly did.”

  • Army to personnel: Stay away from politics

    The Nigerian Army has again issued a strong warning against the involvement of its personnel in any form of political activities.

    Sounding the warning in a statement issued in Abuja by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, the army maintained that it has made it clear to its personnel and officers to stay away from political campaigns or escort of VIPs for political missions.

    Colonel Musa said it had become imperative to make the army’s position known considering the fact that members of the public might be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegation of the involvement of a military officer in the Rivers state saga.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to an allegation of involvement of one of its officers in politics in Rivers State which was found to be untrue.

    “The Nigerian Army would have ordinarily ignored such baseless insinuations but for the unsuspecting members of the public who may be misled to believe the unsubstantiated allegations of political involvement of a military officer.

    “The Army has made it sufficiently and consistently clear that none of its personnel will be involved in political campaigns, escort of VIPs for political missions and above all, aiding or supporting any political party as has been circulated in official circulars and statements.

    “Although a detailed press statement has been released, the need to further make the position of the Nigerian Army clearer is therefore imperative.

    “Our Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct have not assigned any political role to the Army in this regard. The Army’s involvement starts and ends with the provision of a peaceful and secure environment for the conduct of 2019 General Elections.

    “The Nigerian Army strongly believes that the Citizens, like responsible media, have complementary constitutional roles to play, especially towards ensuring national security, information management, peace, and safety of Nigerians.

    “The Army will continue to achieve and sustain constructive engagement, obedience to the rule of law and obedience to constituted authority at all time in the spirit of civil-military relations.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has consistently called on soldiers to uphold the tenets of military professionalism and be guided by the rules of Engagement and the constitution of Nigeria toward sustaining a responsive army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “Therefore, any insinuation or assertion against this open declaration is not only mischievous but politically motivated with the intent to tarnish the reputation of the Army which has been built on discipline and obedient to civil authorities under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff.

    “Members of the public are therefore urged to always ignore information attributed to the Nigerian Army that are contrary to its core values of professionalism, respect for others and open declaration on the rules of engagement”.

  • 2019 Polls: Buratai inaugurates Army Situation Room

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai on Wednesday inaugurated the 2019 General Elections Situation Room for the Nigerian Army, saying it is a proactive mechanism by the Army to keep abreast with situation reports on the conduct of the elections.

    According to Buratai, the inauguration of the Nigerian Army Situation Room was informed by events that characterized the previous elections, and the imperative of taking precautionary steps to prevent break down of law and order before, during and after the elections.

    Speaking shortly after the inauguration of the Situation Room, Lt Gen. Buratai said: “Recall that the NA had earlier launched OP SAFE CONDUCT which is one of the series of exercises undertaken by the NA to ensure the success of the 2019 General Elections. The NA Situation Room has been reconfigured for real-time monitoring of events during the 2019 General Elections.

    “It is pertinent to state that the post-election violence which characterized previous elections clearly highlights the challenges posed by incidents of electoral violence in the country. Hence, the NA saw the need to devise new strategies of stemming such ugly tides or completely eliminating same.

    Read Also: Nigerian Army to begin export of combat vehicles by 2030 –Buratai

    “Lessons learnt from previous election violence witnessed have categorized the nature or types of violence into 3 broad categories namely: pre-election violence, violence during elections and post-election violence.

    ” Violence at the various phases of elections include thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes and papers or kidnapping or abduction of electoral officers and party agents and wanton destruction of lives and properties, respectively.

    “Having observed this cycle of violence reoccur severally in our past electioneering processes, the NA has thus deemed it necessary to adopt a proactive and responsive posture that would allow us to better respond to early signs of insecurity before they could escalate into a major security challenge. It is in this light that the NA has launched OP SAFE CONDUCT and also gone ahead to establish this situation room for real-time monitoring.

    ” At this point, it cannot be overstated that fake news and false propaganda pose a dangerous threat to both the democratic process and military operations. The use of media, especially social media to deliberately spread fake news should be a thing of concern to all.

    “The rapid spread of fake news has been responsible for misinformation, thereby having an influence on public sentiment and sow confusion among the electorate or even easily ignite violence during the period of the 2019 General Elections.

    “The NA through the Cyber Warfare Command has been continually engaged in monitoring, identifying and countering various forms of fake news and propaganda being put out by terrorists and subversive elements. However, in this period of the elections, there is need to collaborate with all stakeholders to confront the menace of fake news.“

  • Python Dance III: Igbos lauds Army , pledge support for free, transparent election

    The South East Revival Group [SERG] has spoken on the reintroduction of the military exercise, otherwise known as Operation Python Dance III in Nigeria, particularly the south east region.
    The group said the launch of the exercise, which has sent criminal elements running from the south-east, was a welcome development and will put an end to all forms of intimidation, coercion, force and blackmail which the agents of darkness had programmed to use in truncating the 2019 general elections across the south east.
    SERG pledged that Igbos would give the troops support in the course of their operation to ensure free and transparent election.
    Charles Mbani, the national president of the group, while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, recalled that Operation Python Dance I & II helped reduce incidents of armed robberies and banditry in the five Igbo states and their neighbours.
    Mbani called on the army to ensure that members of the Independent People of Biafra organization or any other organization do not deprive voters in the southeast, especially in Ebonyi and Abia states.
    He said, “We are not unaware of the mixed reactions that have trailed the launch of the exercise at the various brigades across the country. Being a group that has been in the tick of the affairs in the southeast, which has hosted the earlier editions of Operation Python Dance, we are in position to offer a fair assessment and projection of what to expect from the nationwide exercise. The earlier versions of the operation held solely in the Igbo states of southeast as training exercises that dealt with incidental crimes.
    It is on record that these first and second versions of Operation Python Dance, which we know locally as Exercise Egwu Eke I and Exercise Egwu Eke II, were initially opposed by those that did not appreciate what was achievable. We can categorically state that after Exercise Egwu Eke I held with remarkable success, people were less critical of Exercise Egwu Eke II, which has made Operation Python Dance III record better reception than the two preceding editions.
    In those two initial editions were instrumental for certain milestones in the southeast as itemized below:
    “Operation Python Dance I & II helped reduce incidents of armed robberies and banditry in the five Igbo states and their neighbours. Because the exercises were held towards the Yuletide season, towns and cities that use to come under siege of criminal elements practically celebrated the season with reduced crimes. The impact was such that our brethren in the Diaspora, who used to be wary of returning home are now able to not only visit home but also spend quality time with us. Because they are able to spend time at home without feeling threatened we are now beginning to see in them an appetite for investing at home, which was not the case before the initiation of Operation Python Dance. Had Operation Python Dance not held in our geo-political zone perhaps we would have today been in the same situation as the northwest geo-political zone where bandits are sowing terror in the hearts of the people.
    “Crimes thrive on the availability of illicit small arms and ammunition. Troops on Operation Python Dance have in the past been able to mop up the flow of illicit firearms, which has made it possible for other law enforcement organizations to have a more conducive environment to carry out their tasks.
    “These past achievements of Operation Python Dance, particularly when they troops persistently observed the rules of engagement, have endeared the exercise to the people. We recall that there were demands from discerning groups and individuals in the southeast for the exercise to be made into an annual affair to ensure that the security situation does not degenerate badly again before there would be such stabilizing intervention.
    “One gap we noticed in the past edition was the tendency for some criminals to flee across state borders into states not covered by the exercise, in the hope that they will return to resume their evil activities once it is over. This gap has now been plugged since Operation Python Dance III is nationwide. The implication is that criminals will have no hiding place as they can only flee one state where the operation is taking place into another state where it is also taking place.

    Read Also:Army recovers pistol after foiled robbery

    “We particularly laud the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai for expanding the operation to cover the entire country. We further laud the Army and COAS for not excluding the southeast from the third edition on account that the geo-political zone had enjoyed two previous editions of the exercise. We are certain that the current exercise will consolidate on the gains of Exercise Egwu Eke I and Exercise Egwu Eke II while spreading similar benefit across the country.
    The operation is a great initiative that complements other security agencies in their roles to make democracy work for Nigerians.
    “It is reassuring that the ongoing exercise is meant to address the problem of criminality usually associated with general elections. It is apparent that it will positively impact the forthcoming election and ensure that lives and properties are secured, which is paramount. Like Oliver Twist, the South East Revival Group [SERG] will however make further demands of the Nigerian Army in the firm belief that the COAS will be kindly dispose to entertaining them:
    “IPoB and some other separatist groups have been threatening that they will not allow citizens to vote in the southeast. Operation Python Dance should help ensure that members of the designated terror organization or any other organization do deprive voters in the southeast, especially in Ebonyi and Abia states, that IPoB has particularly singled out for disruption as contained in a statement it issued.
    “Troops should continue mopping up illicit small arms since there has been a pattern of upsurge in crimes related to these firearms in the aftermath of elections. We understand that some unscrupulous politicians usually distribute arms to youths, which they then divert into commission crimes once elections are over since the politicians are unable to retrieve same from them. The Army should please ensure that such weapons are not used during the elections and certainly not used after the elections.
    The group further charged Nigerians to support the exercise in their various states to ensure free and fair general elections.

  • Banditry/Kidnappings: Group backs Buratai for exposing those behind killings in Nigeria

    The Coalition of Human Rights Groups has backed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai for exposing those behind the unrest in the country.
    Lt. Gen. Buratai had on Wednesday said embittered politicians, who were bent on destabilising the country were responsible for the rising activities of bandits.
    He gave this assertion while hosting members of the 10-man Committee on Army of the House of Representatives, who were in Maiduguri on a two-day oversight function.
    He said, “There are myriads of security challenges we are facing right now in the North-West, North-Central and other parts of the country. I want to believe, and rightly so, that with the fallout of the just-concluded general elections, there are politicians who saw their defeat as a means of revenge, sponsoring these criminal activities and even banditry and clashes between the farmers and herders.”
    Speaking on the revelation, the human rights group warned those behind the serial acts of banditry, kidnapping and killings must desist from these evil acts and change their ways.
    Maxwel Gowon (Esq), Executive Director of the group in a statement obtained by our reporter on Thursday, appealed to defeated political players in the last election to use proceedings in expressing dissatisfaction with election outcomes without resorting to bloodletting.
    The statement reads below.
    Permit us to say that we are not in any way surprised by the revelations made by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai while speaking before a committee of the House of Representatives this week. In summary, General Buratai asserted that politicians are behind the new wave of attacks against Nigerians by Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other killer groups.
     He also said some politicians who were defeated during the General Elections sponsor criminal as their own way of revenge for their rejection by Nigerians.
    The Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria want to categorically state that what General Buratai have disclosed is not really new. Political support for Boko Haram is something that our coalition expressed concerns about shortly before the elections.
     Our concerns at that time were validated when the Federal Government raised the alarm about how the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar were procuring the services of these terrorists and foreign mercenaries to make the country unsafe. We had also, after the elections, revealed that the opposition, following their election losses, had given a fresh mandate to the terrorists to make the country ungovernable.
    The favor General Buratai has done for Nigerians is to confirm that the threat from politicians that lost election is real. The Chief of Army Staff, by virtue of his position has access to the best intelligence about the dynamics of the politically motivated acts of terror being committed against Nigerians by those that want to take over the government at all cost. The affirmation by General Buratai that the Boko Haram threat is real is therefore a well-founded fear and informed position as he neither known for being flippant nor alarmist but has always been sounded patriotic in his intervention.
    On the heels of what the Chief of Army Staff has said, we are drawing the attention of Nigerians to five critical points:
    The opposition backed terrorist groups and foreign mercenaries to cause insecurity in several parts of the country prior to the elections in the hope that the resulting chaos will either allow them rig the polls or deplete potential votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in his strongholds.
    The attacks by Boko Haram, bandits and other criminal elements are centered on areas where the opposition had predicted they would win but were roundly defeated, which could mean that Nigerians in these affected places are being punished by the opposition for voting their choice.
    The opposition, especially Atiku Abubakar, categorically told the world that they will ensure that killings continue across the country because President Buhari was re-elected. The killings are fitting this predicted pattern.
    Captured terrorists, victims and security agencies have repeatedly identified political players as drivers of the acts of terrorism that have been recorded.
    The opposition had never hidden their glee each time there was an attack anywhere. They are quick to exploit the attacks for launching verbal and media attack on the government. This insecurity is what they are now leveraging on to plot a coup against the government as have been exposed by the Nigerian Army.
    We are calling on the politicians that lost elections to have a rethink and immediately desist from sponsoring killings and supporting Boko Haram or any terror group to unleash deaths on Nigerians. There are legal proceedings to expressing dissatisfaction with election outcomes without resorting to bloodletting.
    Not only is the Coalition of Human Rights Groups in Nigeria asking these politicians to withdraw support for the killers they have commissioned, they must also, because they engaged these terrorists to carry out the killings, come up with modalities for decommissioning and demobilizing the killer gangs while handing over inventories of weapons they issued to these killers so that law enforcement agencies can properly mop up the illegal firearms that are being used to carry out the killings.
    Those that have been contracted to take the life of others must know that they face reckoning. Time has practically run out for them to repudiate the bloody contracts assigned to them by disgruntled politicians. They should immediately turn themselves in and name the politicians that gave them dirty jobs to do while also surrendering weapons in their possession. They must know that the military in Nigeria is capable of dealing them mortal blows once the era of persuasion is over. This will lead to certain death for the killers while their political masters are able to slink into the shadows to enjoy the proceeds of their corrupt past.
    In conclusion, we are calling on the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, notably the Nigerian Army, to consider that the period of grace is over for those that have decided that Nigerians cannot or will not know peace. The battle should be taken beyond the theatre of operation; the identities of Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and killer mercenaries gunned down in battles should henceforth be investigated and confirmed so that those they are linked to can be tracked down. The military should co-operate with the Nigerian Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) in this regard so that politicians or anyone found to be connected with these killers.
    We want to urge the Nigerian Army and other branches of the Armed Forces not to relent in the commendable efforts they have made in saving the country from the killers unleashed on the rest of us by the failed politicians. It is apparent that the situation would have been far worse if Nigeria does not have committed leaders in the military.
    Our appeal to the Federal Government is to repeat an earlier stated position that the situation at hand has gone past the one for political consideration. People that are devious enough to send killers after the electorate as punishment for not being voted do not require pampering; what they need is the activation of the full powers of the Nigerian state against them and the military and security agencies should be allowed to deploy this. They should get the backing to go after anyone found to be sponsoring these killers irrespective of whether there will be cries of clamp down on the opposition or not.
    Thank you for listening.

     

  • Groups visit Presidential Panel, declare support for Armed forces

    Groups visit Presidential Panel, declare support for Armed forces

    Members of the National Committee of Yoruba Youth and the coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria, on Monday stormed the Ikeja High Court in Lagos, in a show of solidarity with the Nigerian Armed forces, at the sitting of the Presidential Panel set up to review the compliance of the armed forces, with Human Rights obligation and rules of engagement.

    Recall, that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo had in August this year, inaugurated a 7-man Judicial Commission to review the compliance of the military with human rights and rules of engagement.

    The commission headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill of the Court of Appeal, is expected the submit its report to the Presidency in 90 days.

    Members of the panel are Major-General Patrick Akem, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, Mrs. Hauwa Ibrahim, Mr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwakama and a representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

    The group who came in large numbers, said they have submitted a memorandum to the committee and have not only come to express their support for the patriotic commitment of members of the armed forces, particularly the Nigerian Army but to also brief the committee, about their observations as members of the Civil society, particularly on what it termed, “spurious allegations” against the armed forces, by some politically exposed Nigerians, who now hide, under the guise of Human Rights, to vilify the armed forces.

    Addressing journalist at the court premises, Convener of the group, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, said the overwhelming vote of confidence, by Nigerians on the armed forces, is “our way of boosting their morale and saying thank you, to these patriotic Nigerians, who have to give all they have, for Nigeria and Nigerians”.

    Odeyemi, lauded the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, for prioritizing Army/Civil relations, and adherence to discipline, within the force.