Buratai Reels Out
Buratai Reels Out 12 Rules of Engagement During
Election
Being an Opening remark by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
General Tukur Buratai at a meeting with PSOs, GOCs in
Abuja
Army General Officers Commanding
I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you all for the
professional manner in which you executed my directives for
Operation SAFE CONDUCT. The proactive intervention of NA in the
recently concluded Presidential and National Assembly Elections
contributed greatly to its successful conduct and credibility. I am
glad to note that both international and local observers and indeed
the Nigeria print and electronic media applauded the professional
role played by the Nigerian Army in ensuring that a secure and
conducive environment was created for eligible voters to exercise
their civic rights.
Unfortunately, some level of violence was still recorded leading
to disruption of polls, burning of ballot boxes in some areas as
well as loss of lives, including the death of an officer and 3
soldiers. The Nigerian Army to a larger extent ensured that the
large scale electoral malpractices and acts of thuggery aimed at
disenfranchising voters as witnessed in previous elections were
curbed despite the campaign of calumny orchestrated by some
politicians against us.
Army
Principal Officers PSOs
Overall, I am delighted to note that the first phase of
Operation SAFE CONDUCT was a huge success. Despite the bomb
explosion in some parts of Maiduguri and attack in Geidam, troops
of Operation LAFIYA DOLE were able to decisively defeat the attacks
and secured the area for a successful conduct of elections. We must
therefore consolidate on this success and prepare adequately for
the second phase of the election by reviewing our plans with a view
to correcting observed lapses a peaceful poll that will reflect the
wishes of Nigerians that have the right to determine those that
govern them.
Recent security threat assessment and analysis of the coming
elections showed that politicians have made plans to use all means
available to truncate the peaceful conduct of the elections. There
are indications of their intent to take advantage of and to use the
farmers/herders crisis, armed political thugs and ethnic militias
to perpetrate acts of violence including bombings. Some of them
also intend to infiltrate domestic staff of political opponents,
employ mercenaries to carry out acts of assassinations, use the
social media for smear campaigns, hate speeches and spread fake
news in a bid to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections. We
must not allow them succeed.
Army General Officers Commanding at a meeting
Let me reiterate that the NA will enforce all guidelines in
support of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the peaceful conduct
of the elections in line with its constitutional roles. I therefore
want to remind us all not to rest on our oars. We shall not allow
those who are determined to undermine our electoral process to
succeed.
These forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections are
very crucial. This is an election that touches on the interest of
the people at the grassroots and could likely be volatile in
nature. It is important to reiterate that politicians will employ
and deploy all means to outwit each other to gain control of power
at this level. We may recall that in the recently concluded polls,
some politicians in their quest for power, armed thugs and
miscreants with automatic weapons; induced and coerced youth
corpers and INEC ad-hoc staff to perpetrate acts of electoral
malpractices. We must therefore continue to support the NPF and
other security agencies to prevent these malpractices from
occurring again. I therefore urge all commanders to work
assiduously and closely with the civil authorities and all law
abiding individuals as well as groups to ensure the success of the
forthcoming elections.
Army Principal Officers at COAS meeting
During the course of the recently concluded elections, troops of
the Nigerian Army were able to make arrests of persons who
perpetrated acts of electoral offences. These suspects are to be
immediately handover to the police for prosecution. I want to state
and categorically warn that the Nigerian Army will not tolerate any
acts that will undermine national security. This time around we
shall be tough on those who plan to rig or disrupt the electoral
process. I therefore want to appeal to Nigerian youths to shun any
attempt by any politician to use them to perpetrate any form of
violence. As we mourn the death of the young officer and soldiers
killed on the course of their lawful duty during the recently held
election, I want to assure their families that their death will not
be in vain. In line with the tradition of the Nigerian Army they
will be given heroic burial as they are indeed the heroes of our
democracy. I have directed that their full entitlements be paid.
Let no one be in doubt that those desperate politicians and
criminals that attacked our troops in the course of carrying out
their legitimate duties will be tracked down and brought to
justice.
We have all seen the advantages of the NA Situation Room for
Elections Security Monitoring. This laudable innovation to security
monitoring has received accolades from different quarters and
already promoting inter-agency cooperation. There is no doubt it
assisted us in timely decision making and more timely response to
situations. I want to urge all commanders to further key into the
platform. As we take decisions and respond, we must have at the
back of our mind that the army must remain professional and
apolitical all through the electoral process.
Army Principal Officers at COAS meeting
There have been reports of alleged compromises by some personnel
during the elections. We have received complaints from some
stakeholders, major political parties, Governors of Bayelsa, Oyo
and Ogun States of allegation of misconduct as well as
unprofessional conduct by some of our personnel. Unfortunately some
other states have gone to the press with unsubstantiated allegation
without resort to the NA leadership. Nonetheless, all these
complaints are noted and will be addressed appropriately.
A high powered committee had been convened and instituted to
investigate all cases of alleged misconduct by troops arising from
the 2019 General Elections. This is aimed at ensuring that all
cases are thoroughly looked into for the purpose of dispensation of
justice and to uphold Nigerian Army’s credibility, professionalism
and apolitical stand.
Once again let me reiterate my charge to you concerning this
election:
1. Commanders must be vigilant to ensure that cases of
infiltrations to scare off voters are not allowed.
2. Hobnobbing and fraternization with politicians during this
election period is totally prohibited.
3. Commanders must ensure robust and extensive patrols are
carried out to cover all flash points; enforce the no movement
restrictions and carryout thorough searches of vehicles and
persons.
4. Commanders must deal decisively with any electoral crime or
action such as electoral thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes,
illegal possession of electoral materials and firearms as well as
other crimes that would mar the smooth conduct of the election.
5. There must be no military escort for any politician or
retired military personnel until after the elections.
6. Commanders must ensure that no retired military officer is
allowed to use Service weapons hitherto authorised for their
personal safety during the period of the election.
7. Commanders must ensure that troops remain on ground to
counter and deal ruthlessly with any post-election violence.
8. Commanders must work in conjunction with the police and other
security agencies to dominate the environment to forestall any form
of violence.
9. Commanders must maintain force protect and respond decisively
to prevent any surprise attack on troops of Operation SAFE CONDUCT
and eligible voters by armed militia groups or political thugs.
10. Commanders must act according to the Rules of Engagement and
within the code of conduct as well as have respect for fundamental
human rights in the performance of their assigned roles.
11. Commanders must not take any unlawful orders from any
politician no matter how highly placed that will jeopardize the
apolitical stand of the Nigerian Army.
12. Commanders must ensure troops under their command remain
apolitical, neutral and should deal ruthlessly with electoral law
breakers as well as avoid compromise with any politician and
political party.
Army Principal Officers at COAS meeting
Finally, I want to seize this opportunity to thank all
well-meaning Nigerians for their support to the Nigerian Army. Our
Situation Room and hot line contact numbers are open for timely
passage of information. We urge them to take advantage of the
facilities. I want to assure Nigerians that we are more than
committed to ensuring the successful conduct of the election. In
the words of Sun Tzu I quote “The general is the safeguard of the
state. If the safeguard is flawed, the State is surely weak”. The
Nigerian Army must therefore work to keep the promise to our nation
and make it strong by ensuring that the election is free of all
forms of violence. We must therefore strive to make a difference.
On this note, I want to also most sincerely thank His Excellency
President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for giving the Nigerian Army the
opportunity to exercise its constitutional role without any bias or
interference. We must therefore remain totally committed to the
defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I
wish you all a successful conduct of Operation SAFE CONDUCT and a
violence free election. Thank you all and God bless.
Lt. Tukuru Buratai
Chief of Army Staff