Boko Haram is
Boko Haram is Defeated, We are Fighting ISWAP –
Buratai
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said
that the Boko Haram terrorist group has since been defeated but the
Nigerian military is now fighting an international criminal gangs
known as Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
He explained that what is currently playing out in the North
East is the metamorphosis of ISWAP which is an attempt by a group
of international criminal organizations to explore the loopholes
created by the breakdown of law and order in some neighbouring
countries to perpetrate criminality in the West African
sub-region.
The Army Chief who spoke when children of several schools in
Abuja visited him to learn more about book, ‘The Legend of
Buratai’, written in his honour and presented to the public on May
17, however declared that just as Boko Haram was pursued out of the
North East, the current band of international criminals gangs
operating under the guise of ISWAP will also be chased and hunted
down.
Commenting on how he copes with the pressure of office, the COAS
said, “When I was appointed the Chief of Army Staff, I had the
feeling that I will be the least controversial COAS. I had the
feeling I will have an excellent relationship with the media. This
first thing I did was to call the then Director of Army Public
Relations and I told him that henceforth, all our actions and
activities must be reported and made known to the media.
“They had a right to know. It is the Nigerian Army. There should
be no gaps about information in our operations in the North East or
elsewhere. Before then, we used to have so many reporters in the
north east including informants for the terrorists who plant
stories and breaking news some of which went contrary to
happenings, with a ploy to make troops unstable or demoralized.
“So we started reporting events and occurrence about the battle,
attacks in the northeast. We were breaking the news ourselves but
this time, the real actions on the ground, not fabrications.
“We also commenced interaction with stakeholders for them to see
and know the true happenings, which later opened their eyes to
appreciate what we were going through and the heroic efforts of
troops. We interacted with the NBA, Human Rights Groups, the Media,
& others and they now understood our job better.
“I also took personal steps to ensure troops fitness and agility
particularly on the battlefield by issuing orders for officers and
soldiers to trim down”.
Continuing, Buratai said, “We also had pressures from
International Organizations including Amnesty International who
also found fault in anything we do.
“I believe they have a hidden agenda which is best known to them
by reporting falsehood against Nigerian military But by and large
we set up investigation teams and found out the allegations they
made were fabricated.
“We ensured rules of engagement were adhered to in all our
operations and those who flouted them were dealt with according to
the rules.
Asked to comment on the secret of his successes, the COAS said,
“I never give up. Never retreat and never surrender is one of the
secrets of my success. You must work hard and hard work eventually
pays.
“All who aspire to succeed must be patient, must aspire and work
hard. For children, you have to read very hard. I had a dream of
becoming a soldier & God answered my prayer.
Schools present at the interaction ceremony included the White
Plain British Schools, Abuja, EFAB International School, Gifted
Hunira Arcade, Command Children School Mogadishu, Command Day
Secondary School, Lungi, and Command Secondary School Suleija.
By PRNigeria