Buratai says poll losers backing bandits, gunmen seize eight in Zamfara

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, on Wednesday
said embittered politicians who were bent on destabilising the
country were responsible for the rising activities of bandits.

He, however, warned them to abide by the outcomes of the
elections and exercise restraints and allow peace to reign.

The Army chief pointed out that the military had strong evidence
against the politicians sponsoring banditry, kidnapping and other
forms of criminal acts.

He gave this assertion while hosting members of the 10-man
Committee on Army of the House of Representatives, who were in
Maiduguri on a two-day oversight function.

He said, “There are myriads of security challenges we are facing
right now in the North-West, North-Central and other parts of the
country. I want to believe, and rightly so, that with the fallout
of the just-concluded general elections, there are politicians who
saw their defeat as a means of revenge, sponsoring these criminal
activities and even banditry and clashes between the farmers and
herders.

“We use this opportunity to call on members of the House of
Representatives to prevail on some of these politicians, to really
look at national interest first before any political or sectional
interest. We have some strong evidence but we are still being
conscious so that we don’t get it wrong but the best is to advise
these politicians.”

He urged politicians to desist from any activities that would
inflict pains on civilians, warning that all criminals would be
dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.

He assured his guests that the Army would continue to pursue
terrorists until they were finally exterminated from the
nation.

Buratai equally assured Nigerians that the Army was capable of
fighting criminals including Boko Haram terrorists, kidnappers and
bandits across the country.

He said despite attacks on soft targets by the insurgents in
recent times, the Nigerian Army had degraded their manpower and
weapons while efforts were being made to deal with the terrorists
at their hideouts and those on the run.

The COAS, while appreciating the visit of the committee members,
assured them that their coming would definitely boost the morale of
the troops and give them more confidence to face the task
ahead.

He also commended the committee members and the National
Assembly for their support and encouragement to the Nigerian Army
operations across the country.

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Rimammade
Kwewum, who led other members on the visit, said they were in
Maiduguri at the Operation Lafiya Dole headquarters as part of
their legislative oversight function to assess activities of the
Nigerian Army and receive briefings on the activities of the
command.

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