NADCEL: Buhari Vows
NADCEL: Buhari Vows to Punish Murderous Criminals in
Whatever Guise
President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that the federal government
will not allow anyone Killer under any guise to go unpunished.
He spoke at the 2019 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) held
at the Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos, in commemoration of the service’s
156th anniversary.
Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said
the federal government was working seriously with other states to
contain herders-farmers conflicts, banditry and terrorism saluting
the army for its efforts to save the country from
disintegration.
He said: “Nobody will be allowed to maim, kill or commit other
crimes and escape. It is our duty to apprehend and punish these
criminals and we are doing and will continue to do so.
“Herder and farmer conflicts, random killings, banditry and
kidnapping some attributed to Fulani bandits, in different parts of
the country are extant challenges that the army has had to
intervene in on several occasions. I want to reassure all Nigerians
that these issues are being seriously tackled by the Federal
Government, working with the states, through a multi-pronged
approach.
“You will be hearing a lot more about these solutions in the
weeks and months ahead. Law enforcement is of course an important
element of the response.
“We have seen an unprecedented ramping up of the deployment of
military personnel- multi-agency intervention squads like Operation
Whirlstroke. The training and deployment of Special Forces, new
Forward Operating Bases, and so on – to the flashpoints, in the
last eighteen months.
“Several bandits’ hideouts and camps have been destroyed, and
hundreds of arrests have been made, and it is now up to our
judicial systems to ensure that justice is meted out not just
comprehensively but also in a timely manner.”
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. -Gen. Tukur
Buratai, said that the Army Day was an opportunity to showcase the
history, values, achievements and combat capacity of the Army.
Buratai pledged that the Army would continue to be ruthless to all
the criminal elements that disturbed the peace and security of the
country.
” We are all aware that the country is facing numerous security
challenges and this has necessitated our involvement in conducting
operations aimed at tackling the numerous nefarious acts of
criminal elements to restore sanity to our dear country.
“Our efforts must not be relaxed until we have achieved the
complete defeat of insurgency and other criminalities in the
country,” he said.
Buratai thanked President Buhari, the legislature and State
Governments for their support and encouragement to the Army.
The Chief of Army Staff Commendation Awards were conferred on
serving and retired officers for operational excellence, bravery,
gallantry, innovative services and contributions to the development
of the Nigerian Army.
Each awardee would get a N2 million cash reward. There was also
the unveiling of first indigenous Light Armoured vehicles.
Some dignitaries present at the event were the former Military
Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff,
Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique
Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas
and
Also present were Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, the
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, represented by Sen. Solomon Adeola,
Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Acting Chairman EFCC Mr Ibrahim Magu
and Chairman NDLEA and representatives of the CNS, IGP, DG SSS,
attended the event.
Others are former CDS and Service Chiefs Gen ML Agwai, Lt Gens
Akinrinade, Alwali Kazir, AO Ihejirika and KTG Minimah
respectively. On the whole, many senior military officers both
serving and retired, Captains of industries, our Royal fathers
including Oba of Lagos and other notable personalities attended the
historic event. Here are some pictorial news of the occasion.
Further details later please.
By PRNigeria
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