Nigerian Army has rendered Boko Haram incapacitated —Buratai •Says military efforts in North-East have paid off

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Yusuf Tukur Buratai, has emphatically declared that the Nigerian  Army has rendered insurgents incapacitated, defeated and deprived from regrouping anywhere in Nigeria.

This was as he said that the efforts of the military in the North-East had paid off, as incessant bombing attacks on the public had been halted.

General Buratai, who made this assertion on Monday, during a courtesy visit to Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, in his palace, said he was in Jos on a familiarisation tour of units and formations under the 3 Division and, indeed, ‘Operation Safe Haven’ here on the Plateau.

He said the success recorded was as a result of determination of Nigerian Army to root out Boko Haram sect members from their enclaves, especially in the North-East and assured the people of Plateau that the state would never witness insurgents again.

“You can see that our efforts in the North-East has really paid off, as you can recall the incessant bombings of market places and different places of worship and populated areas had virtually stopped now. And I can assure you and the people of Plateau State that they will never witness Boko Haram attacks as witnessed in the past.

“The Nigerian Army has not only succeeded in rooting them from their camps in the North-East, we have been able to block these criminal elements from crossing to these areas or building their camps anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.

He assured that the military would remain resolute in the discharge of its duties, as well as commended the Gbong Gwom Jos for  his moral support through wise counsel to the military, especially those in the state, to maintain law and order.

In his remarks, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, declared thus: “The success of the Nigerian Army over Boko Haram did not come to me as a surprise, because I know very well that the Nigerian  Army historically had always distinguished itself wherever it served and today, that particular history is still very much playing itself out.

“Let me, on behalf of Plateau State, thank you and your men, whom over the years, have been paying sacrifices to work towards restoring peace, law and order, not in Plateau State alone, but all over Nigeria. Just some months back, Nigerians were apprehensive to whether Boko Haram will consume Nigeria or Nigeria would overcome it.

“But we thank God Almighty for your efforts and that of your men, by restoring hope to Nigerians. The sacrifices you have made have translated to almost a total end to these destructive elements.

“We noted that upon the discharge of this responsibility, you have lost some men who sacrificed their lives for peace of this country. We pray that God, in his mercy would grand them eternal rest and console their families.”

The Gbong Gwom also appealed to the military to fish out the killers of Lazarus Agai, the paramount ruler of Bokkos.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the paramount ruler was murdered by gunmen weeks ago.