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Tag: Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai

  • Human rights abuse: Lagos pledges collaboration with Army

    Human rights abuse: Lagos pledges collaboration with Army

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday pledged its commitment to the efforts of the Nigeria Army to frontally address incessant cases of human rights abuse by military officers in the war against insurgency and internal security operations in the country.

    The Army, in recent times, has had its image battered in the public owing to violation of human rights by military personnel, a development which compelled the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai to set up a Special Board of Enquiry to investigate all cases of human rights violation levelled against personnel of Nigerian Army.

    Addressing journalists at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja after a meeting with Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, President of the Nigerian Army Special Board of Enquiry, Major General Ahmed Tijani Jubrin (Rtd), said the Army was determined to address the issue once and for all and restore the confidence of the public.

    Jibrin said the meeting with the Governor was part of the strategic engagement of the Board to carry along critical stakeholders on efforts being made by the Nigerian Army to stem the tide of human rights abuse by military personnel.

    He said: “This Board of Enquiry was set up by the Chief of Army Staff to investigate all cases of human rights violation levelled against personnel of Nigerian Army in their war against insurgents in the North East and in their internal security operation in the South East.

    “We are here to brief Governor Ambode on what effort the Army headquarters is making on the allegation making rounds in the media that the Army, in their operations, have committed gross violation of human rights and arising from that, the COAS set up this Board and the committee is made up of retired officers, activists from the legal sector and human rights groups, as well as some serving personnel.

    “Our mission here is to brief the people and government of Lagos State on what the COAS is doing in his response to this allegation. I think from the composition of the Special Board of Enquiry, people can see that this time the Army headquarters is determined to get it right by getting a broader representation so that whatever the result of the enquiry is, will be known to the public,” Jibrin said.

    He added that the findings of the Board would be made public at the end of interaction with all the necessary stakeholders and concerned actors.

    On his part, Secretary to Lagos State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello said the members of the Board were at the Lagos House to brief the Governor on their activities so far.

    “They (members of the Board) are here in Lagos to hear the Governor out and explain to him what they have been doing. Like the Governor promised during the meeting, we as a State Government are willing to support them in whatever way we can as we have always done,” Bello said.

  • Suicide attacks: Buratai orders deployment of military dogs in Maiduguri

    Suicide attacks: Buratai orders deployment of military dogs in Maiduguri

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has ordered the deployment of military sniffer dogs in and around Maiduguri as part of efforts to checkmate incessant suicide bomb attacks in the city.

    Buratai gave the order on Tuesday after he inaugurated a sports complex built by 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at the Maimalari Cantonment.

    The army chief frowned at the incessant suicide bomb attacks in the city but noted that the attacks had reduced recently.

    He, however, said the attackers seemed to have “found another loophole but I want to assure you that that loophole will be blocked’’.

    “I have already directed the deployment of the military working dogs.

    “We have a battalion with the Nigerian Army Military Police and I have directed them to be deployed immediately around Maiduguri so that these continuous suicide bombings will cease once and for all,’’ he said.

    Buratai charged the troops and Maiduguri residents to be alert and conscious of their environment as well as strange people around them.

    He further charged the troops to work hard to ensure that peace was won after winning the battle with the terrorists, adding that the North East must be kept safe.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sports complex is named after the late Lt.-Col. U.B Umar, a commander of one of the army formations in the North-East.

    Umar died in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in 2016.

  • We need army to tackle security challenges – Buhari

    We need army to tackle security challenges – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the attention of the Army would always be required to tackle numerous security challenges across the country.

    Speaking at the closing of the 2017 Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship at Sambia, the president urged troops to use the skills they acquired in the competition to improve their performance.

    Represented by Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence of Staff, Buhari, said: “Remember security challenges abound in our country that will continue to require the attention of the Nigerian army and indeed the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    “I, therefore, urge you not to rest on your oars but harness the skills which you have used this competition to sharpen for improved performance,” he said.

    The president said holding the exercise in Sambisa indicated that normalcy had returned to Borno, and indeed the North-East.

    Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has directed the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, to route remnants of Boko Haram terrorists from their hiding places in the “next few weeks.”

    “I want to give the final task to the Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, to within the next few weeks flush out these criminals once and for all from their hiding places in this area and indeed in the whole North-East,’’ Buratai said.

    “This is a task we much accomplish,” he said.

    The chief of army staff said troops would continue to dominate the forest with the fall of Camp Zero, the last stronghold of the Boko Haram, and vowed that the terrorists would never be allowed to re-occupy the area.

    Buratai said that to ensure this, exercises including training would continue to be held in the forest.

    He also directed the Commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), to ensure that henceforth, final exercises of passing out cadets were held in the forest.

    Nine Divisions of the Nigerian army, 1,2,3,6, 7, 8, 81, 82 and Army Headquarters Garrison participated in the exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 7 Division, Maiduguri, emerged the winner of the championship, 82 Div., Enugu, came second, while Army headquarters Garrison took the third position.

    Apart from trophies, they were rewarded by the Chief of Army Staff with N2 million, N1.5 million and N1 million in that order.

    Ten participants took part in the shooting competition including the AK47 rifle, FN rifle, pistol and female Ak47 shooting.

    All the Service Chiefs, representative of the Inspector-General of Police and Defence Attaches of various countries in Nigeria attended the ceremony which also featured the display of “fire power’’ by the army and Air Force.

  • Army establishes Operation Base in Southern Kaduna

    Army establishes Operation Base in Southern Kaduna

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has laid the foundation stone for the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of 2 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

    The Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia Local Government Area of the state had been the military formation in Southern Kaduna.

    Speaking at the occasion, Buratai said the army was committed to peace and security in all parts of Nigeria.

    He said the need to find a lasting solution to incessant herdsmen/farmers crises rocking Southern Kaduna in recent times necessitated the setting up of the base.

    Buratai urged Nigerians to learn to co-exist peacefully, adding “we need each other”.

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state in a remark noted that 11 similar clashes had been recorded in the state, but vowed to put an end to it.

    He said all those behind the recent farmers/herdsmen crisis will be brought to book no matter how highly placed.untitledburutai-2

    “Whether they are my son or daughter or relations, whether they are Muslim or Christian, someone will be jailed to put an end to the crisis. And this will be the end of the crisis in the state,” El-Rufai said.

    Earlier during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Jama’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu, the chief of staff directed troops stationed in Southern Kaduna to move deep into the forest to fish out perpetrators of violence in the state.

    ”The troops have been working seriously to ensure that attacks and counter attacks are brought to an end.”

    Buratai also visited the Chief of Kagoro, Dr Ufuwoi Bonet, and appealed to the traditional ruler to assist in finding a solution to the crisis in the area.

    He also visited Ninte village, the scene of the most recent herdsmen/farmers clash, where he addressed troops of 101 Special Force battalion stationed in the community.

    He noted that the Hausa and Fulani had been living together in the community for centuries, but wonder why they resorted to killing themselves.

    “There is a need for understanding. It is a family issue that can be resolved amicably,” warning, however, that those responsible for killings and violence would not go unpunished.

    “We will deal with anyone that foments trouble,” he further warned and called on traditional rulers and other leaders to join the effort to bring peace to the area.

    The army chief charged the troops to be professional and respect human rights in the discharge of the duties.

  • Boko Haram attacks camp bombed by air force

    Boko Haram attacks camp bombed by air force

    • Eight insurgents shot dead
    A fresh calamity almost hit the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp Rann, Borno State, on Thursday night, just  48 hours after its accidental bombing by a Nigerian Air Force plane.
     
    This time it was Boko Haram that was on the loose.
    About a hundred of its fighters, fully armed, sought to overrun the camp but were repelled by soldiers, witnesses said.
    The battle raged for about four hours, leaving eight of the invaders dead and one soldier wounded.
    Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) whose members have been assisting in treating the IDPs especially victims of Tuesday’s accidental bombing said yesterday that the death toll in the incident had reached 90.
    Most of the victims were women and children.
    An agency report yesterday said the Boko Haram botched attack occurred as aid workers were trying to help bombing victims.
    “This incident happened just an hour after a (Doctors Without Borders) rescue helicopter left the town and has a traumatiing effect on everyone in Rann,” one aid worker was quoted as saying.
     
    The Chief of Army’s Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai was due at Rann on Friday.
    The town is the headquarters of Kalabalge local government area. 
    The Air Force has launched an investigation into the accident.
     
    Doctors Without Borders said that “around 90 people were killed when a Nigerian air force plane circled twice and dropped two bombs in the middle of the town of Rann,”  adding that the death toll could still rise further.
    It cited  “consistent reports from residents and community leaders” that as many as 170 people were killed.
    “This figure needs to be confirmed,” it said in a statement.
     The victims of this horrifying event deserve a transparent account of what happened and the circumstances in which this attack took place,” MSF General Director Bruno Jochum said.
     
    Humanitarian workers were distributing food to between 20,000 and 40,000 people living in makeshift shelters at the camp when the bombing struck.
    MSF’s Jochum said civilians were paying the price of a “merciless conflict” between the government and Boko Haram, the jihadist group which wants to establish a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

    One aid worker, who asked not to be identified, described the incident as “horrifying” and “a huge setback to humanitarian work in the northeast.”

  • Military to carry out exercises in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau

    Military to carry out exercises in Kaduna, Kano, Plateau

    To rid Nigeria of criminals and troubleshooters, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Thursday said the military will soon commence exercises named Kunama 2 in Southern Kaduna, parts of Kano and Plateau States.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the end of about six-hours security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, troops are already on ground to stop the killings in Southern Kaduna.

    He also said other operations in the North-East, South-South, and South-East are on course.

    He said: “Our troops are already in Southern Kaduna, we have our special forces operating there along with all other security agencies and we intend also to have an exercise very soon in Southern Kaduna to cover some part of Plateau and indeed part of Kano State.

    “So it is part of our strategy for this year, to continue all the exercises we have had before. We will be having exercise Kunama two, which will come into Southern Kaduna and part of Plateau and Kano States.

    “Croccodile smile is for the Niger Delta and indeed the Python dance. But we are going to rename the Python dance for the South East this year also.”

     

  • Yuletide:Buratai salutes soldiers for Gallantry

    Yuletide:Buratai salutes soldiers for Gallantry

    The Chief of Army staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has commended the efforts and sacrifices of gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Army currently engaged in the counter-insurgency operations in the North-East and other operations across the country and abroad.

    Buratai gave the commendation in a Christmas and New Year message to the personnel.

    “I congratulate you for your bravery, doggedness and loyalty in these endeavours. I want to urge you all to maintain the momentum and remain steadfast as we continue to professionally and responsively carry out our constitutional roles.

    “On my part, I will continue to ensure that troops’ welfare and that of their families, remains my utmost priority.

    “Let me reassure you of the Federal Government’s commitment to providing the Nigerian Army with the requisite support for us to perform our duties.

    “The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, has pledged his total support to the Armed Forces to bring all ongoing operations to an end in favour of our dear country.

    “This festive season heralds peace as well as a time for merriment, sober reflection and introspection. I enjoin us all to continue to pray to the Almighty God for the repose of the souls of our fallen comrades and the wellbeing of the families of our brave fallen heroes,” the army said.

    While thanking the officers and men for the good job they had done in 2016, he said they should look forward to “making greater progress in 2017.”

    “I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” he said.

  • Gov. Obiano urges Anambra people to cooperate with the Army

    Gov. Obiano urges Anambra people to cooperate with the Army

    Gov. Willy Obiano of Anambra on Tuesday welcomed the launch of the “Exercise Python Dance” by the Nigerian Army in the state and urged the people to cooperate with the army in sustaining the relative peace in Anambra.

    “They are not Army of occupation as being labelled by some people, especially on the online media.

    “Nobody will be molested,” Obiano told the people but warned criminal elements to steer clear of the state as the exercise would not be friendly to them.

    He recalled that when he took over the mantle of leadership of the state, there was insecurity, making many indigenes to stay away from the state.

    The governor, however, noted that the trend had been reversed with the task force he had set up to deal with the situation, adding that incidents of kidnapping and other forms of criminality had been checked in the state.

    In a remark at the launch, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the exercise was a training programme like others launched in other parts of the country.

    Buratai stressed that the exercise was part of the Army’s constitutional responsibility to aid civil authority in maintaining internal security.

    He warned that those who would want to disrupt the peace of the state would have themselves to blame.

  • Igbos, truthful, committed, but often misunderstood – Gov. Okorocha

    Igbos, truthful, committed, but often misunderstood – Gov. Okorocha

    The Igbos have been referred to as “the most truthful, committed and trust -worthy people but often misunderstood in the country.’’

    This statement was made by Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, on Monday when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Government House, Owerri.

    Okorocha said that Imo had witnessed tremendous progress under his leadership. He described Imo as “one of the safest states’’ in Nigeria, where there was no more kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and baby factory syndrome.

    He attributed the relative peace and security in the state to the efforts of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army.

    He commended the military for the successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East.

    He noted that such successes had not being achieved in Syria and other parts of the world battling terrorism.

    Okorocha also commended the army for the “Exercise Crocodile Smile” and newly introduced “Exercise Python Dance” in the South-South and South-East zone.

    He urged the security agencies to do whatever they could to secure the pipelines to enable the free flow of oil to generate revenue for the nation.

    He promised to continue to support the army.

    Earlier, Buratai told the governor that he was in the state for the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference.

    He told the governor that “Python Dance” was a training exercise to update troops in the South- East on the rudiments and basics of their job.

    Buratai said that during the conference the army would offer free medical services to the people of the state.

  • Support our frontline troops, Buratai urges Nigerians

    Support our frontline troops, Buratai urges Nigerians

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has appealed to corporate organisations and public spirited Nigerians to support the “Thank You for Your Service’’ Initiative recently launched for troops in the frontline.

    Buratai, who made the appeal at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, said the initiative was to boost the morale of the troops.

    Under the scheme conceived by the army, bottled water with the inscription: “Thank For Your Service’’ is being produced by the private sector for free distribution to troops, especially those in the North-East.

    Buratai had earlier launched the bottled water on Tuesday in Abuja where he unveiled packs of the water for the troops.

    Represented by Maj.-Gen. Peter Bojie, the Chief of Military/Civil Affairs, the Army Chief said: “This water is not for sale as it is meant for every Nigerian soldier, especially those in the frontline.

    “There is a need to say thank you to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army for their selfless service,’’ he said.

    According to him, without the buy-in of the Nigerian people, this initiative cannot succeed.

    He, therefore, appealed to well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations, groups and state governments and self-funded parastatals to join hands with the Army to make the initiative a success.

    On the sustainability of the initiative after the insurgency in the North-East, the chief of army staff said that it all depended on the goodwill of Nigerians.

    He said the bottled water was expected to be distributed free to all troops deployed in frontline across the nation to address internal conflict.

    During the launch, Enugu State Government supported the initiative with N10 million, Ebonyi Government gave N5 million, while the Nigeria Customs Service gave N1.5 million, among others.