Buratai orders aggressive postures against bandits, criminals, harps on human rights

The Chief of the Army General Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has led troops fighting bandits, marauders, and other criminals in the states of Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto, among others, to deal decisively with all the elements criminals in their areas of operations.

Latest Nigeria newspaper report that General Buratai took office while addressing the troops at the Headquarters Brigade 1 in Gusau, Zamfara state, on Monday.

He commended the troops for their commitment and professional readiness to maintain and consolidate the current peace agreement and the reconciliation agreement in the state, urging them to maintain an aggressive stance against bandits, kidnappers and unrepentant cattle thieves.

He took the opportunity to reiterate the preparation for combat and the determination of the Nigerian army to protect the lives and property of all citizens of Nigeria who respect the law.

“I order the troops to remain disciplined, committed, dedicated and absolutely loyal to the constituted authority at all times,” he ordered.

General Buratai reiterated his mandate to the troops to always adhere to the existing Rules of Commitment and the Code of Conduct of the Nigerian Army during training operations and exercises, since violations of human rights by any personnel will never be tolerated

According to him, “no officer or soldier should take the laws into his hands, innocent civilians must be protected at all times, rights abuses will never be encouraged, tolerated or left unpunished.”

He assured the troops of the Army’s commitment under his leadership with his welfare and that of their families.

Buratai also informed the troops of the rapid completion of the many residential and office accommodations in progress, water projects and provision of medical facilities in the recently established barracks in Gusau and others in newly formed units and formations throughout the country.

While in Gusau, COAS inspected ongoing projects in the barracks and visited soldiers wounded in action at the Federal Medical Center of Gusau, capital of the state of Zamfara.

A day earlier he had visited the governor of the state of Zamfara, Bello Mutawalle, at the Gusau Government House to thank him for his interventions at the army headquarters, Gusau, where the state government is executing water and electrification projects.