Nigerian Army on top of security, Buratai restates

By Michy Abraham in Maiduguri

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has restated that the Nigerian Army has been on top of security challenges in the country, stressing that without the military the situation could have been worse.

The COAS who gave a thumb up to officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army fighting in various theatres of operation, said they have risen admirably to the challenges and successfully brought the situations under control.

He said the prevailing cases on insecurity even though they are evolving from several fronts have continued to succumb to the professionalism and capability of the Nigerian Army which is benefitting from the various capacity advancement and training programmes initiated under his leadership.

He said: “Despite the prevailing cases of insecurity in several parts of the country, I am proud to say this, the Nigerian Army has continued to rise admirably in tackling all security challenges plaguing the nation, as can be seen in the decimation of terrorists in the North East and bandits and kidnapping in the North West and North Central zones of the country.”

Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Army, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, made this comment on Tuesday at the Graduation Lecture for  Course 4, 2020 of the Army War College, Nigeria and Commissioning of the War College Office Complex Extension in Abuja.

The COAS said the Army War College has continued to play a vital role since it’s inception pointing out that after three years, “Our Vision has paid a high level of dividend”.

He said, “Graduates of the Army War College have added value to Nigeria Army War fighting capabilities,” adding that: “This explains why I have focused a lot of attention in upgrading the facilities and environment of the college to required standard.”

He noted that the new office extension has 415 seating capacity at its ultra-modern lecture hall, he said that: “It is with a deep sense of fulfilment that I commission the office extension after commissioning new sporting facilities for the AWCN few weeks ago.

Earlier, Guest Lecturer at the occasion and UNDP Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr . Mohammed Yahya disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme was interested in three key programmes in any country it works with.
These are Governance, Environment and Inclusive growth.

He warned African countries to beware of the rise and increase in violent Extremism regretting that in the year 2020 alone, 3,181 Africans have been killed as a result of violent Extremism.

While noting that other than the use of force alone, African countries to consider injecting other strategies in addition, to tackle violent Extremism, the UNDP Country Representative said, “Nigeria has to lead the way. Nigeria needs to be ahead of the curve of fighting extremism.

Present at the occasion were the Ambassador, Indian High Commission to Nigeria and the UK Attache to Nigeria, DG Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maj Gen Garba Wahab (rtd(), former Commandant, AWCN, Maj Gen Charles Ofoche, Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj Gen AA Adabayo, Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Maj Gen Hamman, and Acting Provost Marshal Army, Brigadier General Ahmed among several other dignitaries.