Buratai vows to remain in North East until Boko Haram is defeated

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured troops of the Nigerian Army fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East that he would be with them in the region until the insurgents are defeated.

It would be recalled that Buratai had last week relocated to the North East in order to oversee and direct the overall operations of the war against insurgency and other Nigerian Army operations across the country.

He said, “I won’t return to Abuja until Boko Haram is defeated”, Buratai assured troops while speaking with them at Ngamdu Special Super Camp on Monday to commemorate the Easter celebration.

Buratai, who regretted that the insurgency had lasted for too long, gave assurances that in no time the Boko Haram elements would be defeated.

“You may wonder that this counter-insurgency operation has lingered for too long, we all know globally that counter terrorism is very complex. There are some countries that have fought counter terrorism for close to 50years. But we’re not going to leave it, we will not leave this camp.

Read also: Lagos discharges six more COVID-19 patients

“We are here, we will not leave this camp until we substantially degrade these criminals. By God’s willing, we shall be there with you no going back once we commence. We will be with you in the valleys, on the hill, in the jungle, in the river and so on. As I speak now, we have some element that are providing us necessary intelligence and once we start, no going back. We are here and we make sure that we get ourselves properly motivated, properly equipped and I assure you will have the best of time.

“Some of you have been here before like two three times but I tell you, we are going to have the best of time. We want the best out of you. We need your courage and determination. I want you to have at the back of your minds that Mr. President is solidly behind you. We have already started getting the consignment of what we require for us to handle these insurgency and terrorism. It a matter of time and a very short time”, he said.

Buratai added: “If I ask you a question, will you answer me? The question is, is anybody ready to chicken out?”

To which the troops chorused a thunderous ‘no’.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now