General Tukur Buratai, Chief of
Army
General Tukur Buratai, Chief of
Army Staff
Harbin Kunama: Reorganizing Military Operation to Cover
Six States
(Being a remarks by Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukuru
Buratai)
You may recall that Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA III was launched on 1
April 2019 after the Chief of Army staff’s Press Conference in
Gusau, Zamfara State on 31 March 2019. I am pleased to inform you
all that the exercise has so far achieved tremendous successes
within the past one month. Several bandits and criminal elements
have been captured and killed while some camps, hideouts and
equipment of the criminals have been destroyed.
It has however been observed that there appear to be a
resurgence of their activities in other contiguous States to
Zamfara. This is occasioned by fleeing bandits that have resorted
to attacking soft targets while relocating to other safe havens
within contiguous States of KATSINA and SOKOTO. Current threat
assessments revealed the migration of the bandits from their
epicenter to other areas in KADUNA, KANO and NIGER States. It is
against this backdrop that Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA III is being
re-organized and its mandate expanded to effectively ensure the
complete defeat of the fleeing bandits. This is to restore public
confidence and enhance safety while also ensuring socio-economic
activities continue without fear or intimidation.
It is on this premise that I want to plead with the general
public to persevere in the face of seeming inconveniences due to
restrictions that may be imposed in these areas while the Nigerian
Army is conducting the exercise. The Nigerian Army mandate is aimed
at building confidence and ensuring our country is rid of criminal
elements that are poised to destabilize the normal life, rights and
freedom of the people across the country as enshrined in the
Nigerian Constitution. I want to assure the general public that the
Nigerian Army will carry out its constitutional mandate
professionally and within the ambit of the law while adhering to
the ROE. Consequently, I urge the general public to claim ownership
of the security of the country and willfully avail us with credible
information that will assist in flushing out subversive and
criminal elements from their hideouts and safe haven. Be rest
assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to support the
non-kinetic efforts of the civil authority to combat criminality
and banditry as well as prevent it from gaining traction and
spreading to other relatively peaceful regions of the country.
I wish to also appreciate our traditional rulers and religious
leaders and further enjoin them to continue to support the NA with
credible information that will assist in the professional conduct
of our exercises and operations to rid the area of banditry and
criminality. They are encouraged to continue to galvanize their
subjects and followers to tow the path of peaceful resolution of
conflicts rather than resulting to violence which does nobody any
good. I use this medium to once again call on all religious leaders
to pray for the success of our exercise and operations as well as
pray for the total eradication of insecurity in our country.
I must also commend officers and men of the NA for their display
of courage and gallantry in dealing with the myriad of security
challenges confronting the nation especially the insurgency in the
North East, banditry in the North West and other forms of
criminality in other parts of the country in a most professional
manner. I want to re-assure you that the Nigerian Army leadership
will continue to provide troops with all the equipment and
necessary support to combat all of these menaces within available
resources. I will also want to acknowledge and appreciate the
support of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for your
excellent collaboration and cooperation with our troops. It is our
hope that this synergy towards leveraging our collective security
efforts would continue.
I will like to appreciate the Executive Governors of ZAMFARA,
KATSINA and SOKOTO States for the support rendered throughout the
conduct of the first phase of Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA III. Indeed,
the successes so far achieved would not have been possible without
your magnanimity to the NA. I will not end this address without
expressing our immense gratitude to the President and Commander in
Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching
support to the NA. Indeed, Mr President’s continued support has
significantly enhanced the combat effectiveness and morale of
troops.
It is on this note that I am pleased to thank members of the
press and all who have made time to grace this event. Be rest
assured of the can commitment of the Nigerian Army to sustain the
existing synergy that has ensured seamless military operations and
liaison with the media.
Lt. General Tukuru Buratai
Chief of Army Staff