The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has reiterated the military’s determination to end Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria in December, a statement said. The statement was issued by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in Abuja on Wednesday.
It said Buratai restated the commitment during a routine operational visit to frontline troops in parts of the Northeast.
“I want to reassure Nigerians that Nigerian Army is ever determined to succeed in meeting up with the set deadline of defeating Boko Haram terrorists by the end of this year,’’ it said. The statement said the Army chief had defied the public holidays to embark on operational and morale boosting trips to troops under Nigerian 3 Division and 7 Division areas of responsibility.
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It said Buratai’s first port of call was Headquarters, 33 Artillery Brigade, Shadawanka Barracks, Bauchi, where he addressed troops on the on-going operations. It said the Army chief also visited the 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe and Biu where he visited two units; 231 Tank Battalion and 331 Artillery Regiment in Aboge Largema Military Cantonment.
The statement said Buratai admonished troops to treat surrendered terrorists humanely in line with international humanitarian laws and the Nigerian Army Code of Conduct. It said the Army chief also decorated newly promoted officers in the frontline with their new ranks and paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Biu, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Umar Aliyu, at his palace.
It said Buratai was accompanied on the visit by some Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Maj.-Gen. HA Umaru and other Commanders. NAN recalls that the Chief of Army Staff has since assumption of office embarked on visits to troops in the frontline to issue operational directives.
