From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has stressed that, dialogue for peace with any group of criminals has never been enlisted in options taking by the Nigerian Army as means of securing tranquility for the nation.
COAS Buratai made the declaration at a press briefing marking the launching of 157th Nigerian Army Day celebration held at Super Camp 4 in Faskari local government area of Katsina state yesterday.
The army Chief said, the constitutional aim of training men of the Nigerian Army was to competitively handle weapons for self and colleagues’ defence for the country to survive as entity and legitimately governed as enacted laws empowered.
“Nigerian army has never been a party to any dialogue for peace with armed bandits, cattle rustlers and or kidnappers being a decision taken by some states in efforts to restore normalcy in their areas.
“But we only offer support to ensure success of the planned reconciliation moves, and in the case whereby some of the bandits decided to remain recalcitrants, the issue to apply military approach has arises”, Buratai has added.
Meanwhile, part of the 2020 year Army Day activities as according to the COAS, and which was themed as “NIGERIANS Territorial Defence and Sovereignty: Imperative for Nigerian Army’s Sustained Training and Operations”, were the commissioning of special intervention projects executed in various communities across 6 geopolitical zones.
“In line with the federal government efforts at cushioning the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Army will be distributing palliatives to vulnerable Nigerians in the 36 states and FCT concurrently across all formations and units in the country”, COAS has stated.
He further informed that, this year’s NADCEL will culminate with the COAS commendation award parade, as it will also mutate to real time operations code named ‘Ex SAHEL SANITY’ which he said was aimed at curbing banditry an other criminal activities in the North West.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
