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Shi’ites killed themselves with misuse of bombs and Russian guns –Buratai

Published

8 years ago

May 2, 2016

Shi'ites killed themselves with misuse of bombs and Russian guns --Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has revealed that the Nigerian Army was not responsible for the death of hundreds of Shiite Islamists, but that the misuse of bombs and Russian-made Molotov gun by the group against the army led to the killing of their followers because they were not trained in the use of the guns.

Buratai stated this when the Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (retd) led the management of the centre on a courtesy visit to his office.

Read also: Army, Shi’ites squabble over allegation to exhume bodies in mass grave

Gen Buratai, who debunked allegations of premeditated murder against the army by Amnesty International, said: “How can anybody accuse a responsible armed agency of government of murder? On the contrary, the people were attacking the soldiers with petroleum bomb and other weapons.

“In actual fact, not all of them knew how to handle Molotov they were trying to use against the Army and it back fired on them.”

On soldiers who died while engaging the Boko Haram insurgents, Buratai said they will never be forgotten, emphasizing that the troops of the Nigerian Army were gallant patriots, who are willing to pay the supreme price for the corporate existence and integrity of the Nigerian state.

“The army will henceforth ensure that gallant soldiers, who die in action, are given a publicized befitting burial with full military honours. In fact, even if it means conducting it in arrears, we will ensure that our fallen heroes are given befitting national burials.

‘’Aside from that, we have also ensured that immediate family members of our fallen officers and soldiers receive prompt payment of all their entitlements and other welfare supports”, Buratai said.

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