ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai has branded those behind the ‘Dubai Properties’ story as the defeated Boko Haram terrorists who are now hiding behind the internet to continue with their attacks against the military institution and government of Nigeria.
Buratai stated this on Tuesday at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, while fielding questions from journalist during the press briefing on the activities lined up for this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL 2016) with the theme “Optimising the Capability of the Nigerian Army to meet Contemporary Security Challenges.”
The Army Chief who had earlier elected not to speak much on it since both the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army have spoken and exonerated him on the issue, went ahead to state that terrorists having been defeated on the field in the North East, have now migrated to the cyber space and the internet to carry out acts of mischief.
He, however, vowed that the Nigerian Army would in the same manner they decimated Boko Haram, pursue the emergent ‘internet terrorists’ to the cyberspace and defeat them.
According to him, the Army has already marshalled out how to counter the narratives and new stratagies of those he tagged ‘cyber terrorists’
He said: “I am not supposed to be commenting again on this issue because both the Federal Government and the Army have addressed. However, what I can say is that we have defeated the terrorists on the land and they have now migrated to the cyberspace.
“But I want to assure that we will follow these Boko Haram that migrated to the cyberspace to wherever they are. We will follow them and clear their doubts.”
In the same vein, Buratai emphasised on the fact that Boko Haram has been defeating, insisting that they no longer hold grounds in the North East.
He challenged anybody who has a contrary view to produce evidence but clarified that some of the terrorists who are either hiding in pockets by infiltrating some communities or looking for any safe haven may cause havoc once in a while.
“Let’s be clear about this, no place or territory is being held by these terrorists. And of course you know that if terrorists are dislodged from one place they move to another even across countries. Right now we have received reports of these terrorists moving to other areas.
“And when we say that the terrorists have been defeated and not holding any territory, have they come out to debunk it. No, non one has come to tell you that they are holding territory,” he asserted.
On the issue of several hostages still being rescued, Buratai noted that most of them are those who refused to leave their communities because of emotional attachment to them and were later being held by the terrorists who now live amongst them.
“These criminals who infiltrated them to intimidate and hold them hostage but today, the situation is very difficult for them because we have blocked all their routes,” he added.
Speaking further, the COAS said that the Army followed due process to retire over 38 senior officers and advised those who feel aggrieved about it to approach the court.
“We have followed due process and some of them have threatened to go to court. I think that is the best approach for them. Some of them have written and our legal department is responding and taking necessary steps,” he revealed.
On the rumoured coup plot, Buratai said the Army is investigating to know the source of the news, warning that “anybody who is attempting to overthrew the democratically elected government is mistaken”.
The Army chief also connected the rumoured coup plotting story to the trending online report regarding his acquisition of two properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE),
“As I told you, those terrorists on the cyberspace are wobbling. We have completely defeated them on the ground and they decided to migrate to cyberspace. We are however developing our own cyber warriors to also defeat them there.
“I assure you that we will not be distracted by these internet terrorists in the space. We will pursue them until we completely defeat them the way we defeated Boko Haram in the North Eats,” he vowed.
Concerning this year’s NADCEL, Buratai said that it will be unique albeit low key, but at same time showcase the Nigerian Army’s commitment as a professionally responsive force in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
He noted that NADCEL is an annual event which was first celebrated on July 6, 1978, “in solemn remembrance of that historic first shot on July 6, 1967 which marked the commencement of the country’s 30-month Civil War to keep Nigeria one.
“It was equally to bring to the knowledge of all Nigerian Army personnel and indeed all Nigerians the fact that the war was an unfortunate tragedy and the reconciliation afterwards should be instrumental to the strengthening of our national unity”.
Subsequently, he said, the Nigerian Army uses the NADCEL week to reflect on its performances in the previous year, for more effective projections and performance in the following year.
According to him, this is usually premised on the lessons drawn from the activities of the previous year in pursuant of the Nigerian Army’s responsibility of maintaining and defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as safeguarding lives and property of its citizenry.
Buratai said that his year’s NADCEL is in two phases with the First Phase that commenced earlier from April 11-20, 2016 with activities reinforcing the need to shore up fighting capabilities and responsiveness of our troops by injecting into its programme, a Command Post Exercise (CPX).
This, he said, will dovetail into the Second Phase from 11 – 14 July, 2016 in which troops of 1 Brigade would be engaged in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) involving realistic and varying war situations in Bakura Forest, Gusau Zamfara State.
He listed other activities lined up to mark the celebration include, Juma’at Prayers in all Nigerian Army formations and units on Friday 1 July, 2016 and will be followed on Saturday 2 July, 2016 by a major Environmental Sanitation Exercise which will be carried out along Abuja–Keffi Road, and in other respective Nigerian Army formations and units in the country.
Also part of the NADCEL activities, he stated, are the Interdenominational Church Service will also be held in all Nigerian Army formations and units across the nation on Sunday 3 July, 2016 while on Monday 11 July, 2016, I will pay Courtesy Calls on the Executive Governor of Zamfara State and the Emir of Gusau.
“This year’s NADCEL, will also enable the Nigerian Army reach out to the public through its Medical Outreach Program on Tuesday 12 July, 2016, during which inhabitants of Gusau and other communities in its environs will benefit from free medical diagnosis and treatment.
“There will be a Camp Fire to symbolise the end of the FTX. Subsequently, there will be an equipment display at the Old Airport, Gusau during which deserving officers and soldiers will be honoured with COAS Commendation Award,” he said.
