We’ll support FG’s efforts to rescue remaining Chibok girls —Buratai

The Nigerian Army has pledged to support Federal Government efforts, including diplomacy aimed at rescuing the remaining Chibok girls and other Nigerians abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, made the pledge in Lagos, on Tuesday, while fielding questions from newsmen after inaugurating the new headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Yaba.

Buratai also used the opportunity to clarify that pockets of attack by terrorists in the North-East was not an indication of resurgence of insurgency.

Asked to give update on the Chibok girls, the COAS said: “As for the army, we are working on our own strategy not only for the rescue of the Chibok girls, but other Nigerians that have been abducted by the insurgents.

“It is our objective that we rescue everybody.”

On the pockets of attack, Buratai said that Nigerian troops in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task were addressing the attacks.

“You cannot call these attacks resurgence of insurgency. We are taking care of the attacks.

“Whenever there is attack, we look at it again and see what happen so that we address subsequent ones.

“There is a conflict in which we have done very well. We have gone very far, we have put – terrorists out of our territory.

“They mostly come from outside our territory to attack our troops. We are working along with the Multinational Joint Task Force to address that,” Buratai said.

He said that contrary to impressions, the army was not overstretched with its involvement in many operations across the country to check criminality.

According to Buratai, the army is involved in operations to deal with crimes because it is better trained, equipped and has better intelligence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the army chief was in Lagos to inaugurate projects in some military formations in the state.

Earlier, while inaugurating the complex, Buratai said that since he assumed duty over a year ago, he had embarked on “massive reconstruction and renovation” of both living and office accommodation for personnel across army formations nationwide.

He charged officers and soldiers to discharge their duties professionally and responsibly and be loyal to constituted authority.

The COAS inaugurated the renovated headquarters of the Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Bonny Cantonment, as well as the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information Studio ICT Centre, all in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He also inspected the Nigerian Army Ordinance Tailoring Factory, Yaba which sews uniforms for army personnel.

Buratai also paid a visit to the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, where he held closed door meeting with the management of the hospital.