Ahead of the February 16 Presidential elections in the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has ordered the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Formations Commanders (Brigade Commanders) in the South East Area of Responsibility (AOR) to immediately embark on a clampdown on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their splinter groups.
Buratai gave the order in Abuja while declaring open the 2019 Chief of Army Staff conference to review the conduct of Ex Egwu Eke III and to appraise the preparations so far being made by various formations towards the smooth execution of Op Safe Conduct before, during and after the 2019 General Elections.
“This is because the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their splinter groups in the South Eastern part of the country are gaining momentum as the group is threatening to disrupt the 2019 electoral process.
“Their excesses must therefore be clamped down immediately”, he said.
He noted that the political clashes in Taraba State and a few other states, call for enhanced liaison between Commanders, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in order to de-escalate tension as quickly as possible.
The COAS disclosed that Army has credible information of subversive motives by some unpatriotic groups aided by foreign conspirators to scuttle the peaceful conduct of the 2019 General Elections in some parts of the country and warned such detractors to immediately mend their ways.
He said the Nigerian Army was working closely with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to ensure an enabling environment for the good citizens of Nigeria to exercise their civic rights.
“In this regard, GOCs and field Commanders at all levels are to deal decisively with any form of security breach,”
He stated that the role of the Nigerian Army in support of the nations’ democracy cannot be over-emphasized.
The COAS restated the need for the Nigerian Army to remain apolitical and professionally responsive in the discharge of its constitutional roles during the elections.
“All Nigerian Army personnel must remain neutral, non-partisan and transparent in all their actions.
“I need to reiterate that there will be zero-tolerance for any action and in-action by Commanders at all levels that is deemed tilted towards giving undue advantage to any candidate, political party, ethnic or religious leanings to the detriment of the unity and integrity of Nigeria.
“This include knowingly or unknowingly receiving any form of inducement from politicians or other entities, be it public or private,” he said
He therefore charged GOCs and Field Commanders at all levels to warn all officers and soldiers under their command to remain forthright and not in any way deviate from the professional ethics of the Nigerian Army.
“I have issued my operational directives for Operation Safe Conduct for the 2019 General Elections.
“The Nigerian Army has also produced a Code of Conduct Handbook for personnel to guide them during the Elections and copies have been distributed to all formations.
“You are to ensure that all personnel read and imbibe its contents and those deployed for Op Safe Conduct are to be issued a copy each,”
Speaking on the Operation Lafiya Dole, Buratai commended the troops in the field for their sacrifice and efforts in spite of daunting challenges.
He further revealed that the Nigerian Army Special Forces Command is currently conducting operations complemented by the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin codenamed Op Yancin Tafki.
The aim of the operation he said is to rid Northern Borno and the Lake Chad Basin especially the Tumbuns of all insurgent activities.
He noted that the management of information especially in theater has become a challenge which is not resolutely handled could jeopardize the successful conduct of operations.
“To this effect, I have directed the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command to disrupt terrorists propaganda activities by embarking on robust counter narratives to neutralize efforts aimed at misleading and misrepresenting the situation on the groups,”
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For operational effectiveness, he sai about 250 motorcycles and 147 vehicles of various categories ranging from gun trucks to ambulances have been in the last three months distributed to commands and formations.
Ahead of the February 16 Presidential elections in the country, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has ordered the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Formations Commanders (Brigade Commanders) in the South East Area of Responsibility (AOR) to immediately embark on a clampdown on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their splinter groups.
Buratai gave the order in Abuja while declaring open the 2019 Chief of Army Staff conference to review the conduct of Ex Egwu Eke III and to appraise the preparations so far being made by various formations towards the smooth execution of Op Safe Conduct before, during and after the 2019 General Elections.
“This is because the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their splinter groups in the South Eastern part of the country are gaining momentum as the group is threatening to disrupt the 2019 electoral process.
“Their excesses must therefore be clamped down immediately”, he said.
He noted that the political clashes in Taraba State and a few other states, call for enhanced liaison between Commanders, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in order to de-escalate tension as quickly as possible.
The COAS disclosed that Army has credible information of subversive motives by some unpatriotic groups aided by foreign conspirators to scuttle the peaceful conduct of the 2019 General Elections in some parts of the country and warned such detractors to immediately mend their ways.
He said the Nigerian Army was working closely with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to ensure an enabling environment for the good citizens of Nigeria to exercise their civic rights.
“In this regard, GOCs and field Commanders at all levels are to deal decisively with any form of security breach,”
He stated that the role of the Nigerian Army in support of the nations’ democracy cannot be over-emphasized.
The COAS restated the need for the Nigerian Army to remain apolitical and professionally responsive in the discharge of its constitutional roles during the elections.
“All Nigerian Army personnel must remain neutral, non-partisan and transparent in all their actions.
“I need to reiterate that there will be zero-tolerance for any action and in-action by Commanders at all levels that is deemed tilted towards giving undue advantage to any candidate, political party, ethnic or religious leanings to the detriment of the unity and integrity of Nigeria.
“This include knowingly or unknowingly receiving any form of inducement from politicians or other entities, be it public or private,” he said
He therefore charged GOCs and Field Commanders at all levels to warn all officers and soldiers under their command to remain forthright and not in any way deviate from the professional ethics of the Nigerian Army.
“I have issued my operational directives for Operation Safe Conduct for the 2019 General Elections.
“The Nigerian Army has also produced a Code of Conduct Handbook for personnel to guide them during the Elections and copies have been distributed to all formations.
“You are to ensure that all personnel read and imbibe its contents and those deployed for Op Safe Conduct are to be issued a copy each,”
Speaking on the Operation Lafiya Dole, Buratai commended the troops in the field for their sacrifice and efforts in spite of daunting challenges.
He further revealed that the Nigerian Army Special Forces Command is currently conducting operations complemented by the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin codenamed Op Yancin Tafki.
The aim of the operation he said is to rid Northern Borno and the Lake Chad Basin especially the Tumbuns of all insurgent activities.
He noted that the management of information especially in theater has become a challenge which is not resolutely handled could jeopardize the successful conduct of operations.
“To this effect, I have directed the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command to disrupt terrorists propaganda activities by embarking on robust counter narratives to neutralize efforts aimed at misleading and misrepresenting the situation on the groups,”
For operational effectiveness, he sai about 250 motorcycles and 147 vehicles of various categories ranging from gun trucks to ambulances have been in the last three months distributed to commands and formations.
