To bring a lasting solution to the insecurity pervading the nation, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that the military will not go into talks with criminals, bandits and terrorists.
Buratai made this known during a news conference to celebrate the commencement of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2020 on Wednesday at the Army Special Super Camp, Faskari, Katsina State.
He said that the military will never engage in dialogue with criminals, as he does not believe this is the panacea to winning the war against insurgency.
“May be when I drop the uniform, I may consider that but for now, it is not the military option.
“Some newspapers quoted me as saying that the troops should move into the bush and defeat them tactically; that is our mission and that is what we want to achieve. Anything short of that will only prolong the insecurity.
“So we are determined to deal with them in the bush or wherever they are, even in the town and cities. We will deal with them accordingly.”
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Buratai also noted that some politicians were trying to politicize the military, adding that the military will remain professional and focused in dissemination of its duties.
“All those allegations are false. We are a professional army; we are responsive, and I have always stressed that we must be responsive to our operational needs, to the challenges of our country and to our troops’ welfare.
“Some have even gone further to say that the Nigerian forces are coming in to intervene to deal with bandits in our territory.
“We will continue to resolve any insecurity that comes.
We will only be seen not to have done anything when we don’t respond, but on all the insecurities across the country, whether in the North-East or North-West, a lot has been achieved,” Buratai said.
Photo Credit: Getty
