General Tukur Buratai, Chief of
General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff
Nigerian Army Activates Cyber Warfare Command to disrupt
terrorists propaganda- Gen. Buratai
The Chief of Army Staff Operations Conference comes at a time
when the citizens of our great country will once again exercise
their civic rights of electing their leaders through the electoral
process.
It is thus, important that we gather here to deliberate on how
best the Nigerian Army can aptly support the Nation’s democratic
process in line with its constitutional mandate.
This task comes at a time when the Nigerian Army is still
engaged in asymmetric operations across the country against
terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements. The task before us
therefore, is a critical one that requires effective balance of our
expertise to efficiently utilize our manpower and resources to
ensure that we meet the aspirations of Nigerians and indeed our
great nation.
Our role in support of the nations’ democracy cannot be
over-emphasized. Hence, this Conference will provide us the
opportunity 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.
The Conference will also afford us the opportunity to review
recent events in Op LAFIYA DOLE and deliberate on how best to
address some of the operational, tactical and administrative
lapses. It is expected that this Conference will proffer solutions
to some of the challenges in the theatre of operation with a view
to stimulating and driving added impetus to the overall conduct of
the operation. I am glad to note that this Conference will also
witness a presentation by the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command
on our latest effort at adapting web-based technologies for
monitoring the operating environment especially during the 2019
General Elections.
Over the past one year, I have given very clear directives on
the posture the Nigerian Army should adopt during the 2019 General
Elections. The need for the NA to remain apolitical and
professionally responsive in the discharge of its constitutional
roles has been stressed. 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. GOCs and Field Commanders at all
levels are 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. I urge you all to remind officers and soldiers under
command to be guided by the stipulated Code of Conduct and rules of
engagement in the discharge of their duties during the Elections.
We will all recall some of the events of the 2015 General Elections
which subsequently led to the sad exit of some fine officers who
were found culpable. I therefore enjoin you all to impress on your
personnel to avoid a repeat of such occurrences.
Let me at this point state that we have 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.
We hereby warn such detractors to immediately mend their ways.
The Nigerian Army is working closely with the Nigeria Police and
other security agencies to ensure an enabling environment for the
good citizens of our dear country 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.
At this juncture, let me remind us all not to lose sight of our
current activities in Op LAFIYA DOLE and other operations across
the country. I commend our troops in the field for their sacrifice
and efforts in spite of daunting challenges. In spite of the
difficulties over the last 3 months, efforts are ongoing to reverse
this trend.
The Nigerian Army troops have since recaptured BAGA and this has
rekindled the fighting spirit of troops in the theatre.
Currently, the Nigerian Army Special Forces Command is
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 is to rid Northern Borno and the Lake Chad
Basin especially the Tumbuns of all insurgent activities.
At the same time concurrent operations are ongoing in Sectors 1
and 2 with the conduct of Op MAZA SUNZO. This operation is aimed at
clearing the insurgents from Sambisa Forest and Alagarno axis.
One of the major issues we had in recent times is the management
of information especially in the theatre which if not resolutely
handled could jeopardize the successful conduct of our
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 ground.
Additionally, the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Guild
of Editors, journalists, bloggers and writers held a 2-day media
conference at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to brainstorm on
the need to promote national interest and safeguard national
security in their reportage.
The large and unprecedented turnout of media practitioners at
the Conference was quite encouraging and it is our hope that we
will work together for more responsible reporting that will not be
injurious to the collective national security and interest.
Furthermore, the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria during a
courtesy call on me last week made a commitment to work closely
with the Nigerian Army towards effective information dissemination
and strategic messaging.
It is also worth mentioning that the Nigerian Army troops
deployed on other ongoing operations such as Ops SAFE HAVEN, DELTA
SAFE, SHARAN DAJI, AWATSE and Op WHIRL STROKE have continued to
perform their tasks professionally. I am glad to note that in Op
SHARAN DAJI, most of the camps and enclaves of armed bandits,
cattle rustlers and criminals in Kamuku and Kuyambana Forests as
well as other areas have been destroyed. I am particularly pleased
with the joint operations by land and air components as well as the
combined border patrols with troops from the Republic of Niger.
These have stemmed the unhindered movement of foreign and local
bandits. In addition, the activities of kidnappers have been
effectively curtailed along Road Abuja–Kaduna through the efforts
of troops of Op WHIRL PUNCH, which has instilled confidence in
commuters. However, the activities of the outlawed Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) and their splinter groups in the South
Eastern part of the country is gaining momentum as the group is
threatening to disrupt the 2019 electoral process.
Their excesses must therefore be clamped down immediately.
Furthermore, 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.
Although we shall focus more on operational matters during the
course of this Conference, it is important to note that in the area
of logistics, we are re-kitting and re-equipping the Nigerian Army
to align with current realities. The Presidency has intervened and
is making serious efforts to acquire some equipment for the
Nigerian Army through the Government to Government window. Let me
seize this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to His
Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for the support to the
Nigerian Army through approvals for equipment procurement and
several visits to troops in various operational areas in the last 3
months. I am glad to note that the Nigerian Army has reciprocated
this show of support through the renewed tempo of operations in the
field which has reversed some of the setbacks.
Over the last 3 months about 250 motorcycles and 147 vehicles of
various categories ranging from gun trucks to ambulances have been
issued to operational and administrative formations. Clothing and
general stores continue to be issued through emergency procurement
in view of a surge of demand from the theatre. Renovation and
rehabilitation works are ongoing in several cantonments and
barracks, of particular note are the construction of officer’s
transit accommodation in 81 Div AOR, construction of the Nigerian
Army Aviation Operating Base in Jaji as well as the construction of
over 5,500 metres of perimeter fencing at Maimalari Cantonment
Maiduguri.
We are also pursuing vigorously the issue of power and metering
of Nigerian Army cantonments and barracks to address the issue of
huge electricity bills incurred over the years. In the interim,
formations and units are hereby directed to set up committees to
verify bills emanating from the electricity distribution companies
in their AORs so as to ascertain the correct indebtedness of the
Nigerian Army.
In the area of research and development, the NA will consolidate
on its drive to improve on our home-grown capacity to innovate,
produce and maintain some of our core requirements. In this regard,
I recently commissioned the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing
Company (NAMVC) at Rigachikun, Kaduna State. The Company is already
surpassing the set milestones and if the standard is sustained, we
would produce essential vehicles for immediate use within 12
months. Our collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation
(DICON), Innoson Motors, Proforce Limited and Nigeria Machine
Tools, among others, is still ongoing, while our engagement with
some foreign technical partners in Belarus, South Korea and India
is yielding results.
Finally, I wish to appreciate the support and commitment of all
the PSOs, GOCs, Corps Commanders, field commanders and Directors at
various levels. Let me once again remind us on the need to
cultivate the virtues and attributes of true leadership so that we
can give proper directions to our subordinates. It is my desire for
the Nigerian Army to continue to produce quality leaders in the
years ahead. We aspire to have great leaders with foresight that
will not reverse the standards we have set so far as a team. It is
my hope that the Nigerian Army will remain forward looking and grow
stronger in the years ahead. As we deliberate, I urge you all to
bear in mind that our actions and inactions are being closely
watched by our fellow citizens and the international community.
Hence our operations in aid to civil authorities during the 2019
General Elections must be carried out professionally. The Nigerian
Army remains totally committed to the defence of the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will continue to remain
apolitical, professional and responsive in the discharge of our
constitutional roles.
Lt. General Tukur Buratai
Chief of Army Staff Operations Conference 2019