Chief Of Army Staff Opens Military Base In Birnin-Gwari

Chief Of Army Staff Opens Military Base In Birnin-Gwari

Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, flagged-off a two Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) at the troubled Birnin-Gwari area of Kaduna State, Nigeria on Monday.

The FOB was tagged Operation ‘Idon Raini’ at Kanfanin Doka village, the proposed site.

Addressing the soldiers, Mr Buratai charged the soldiers to get the killers in the troubled area within three weeks.

According to him, he required resounding results, such that will finally bring the criminals to their knees.

The Army chief told the soldiers not to adopt the defensive approach but rather, an offensive one.

He said since the battle has been brought to them they must take it back and crush them wherever they are within the forest.

“The killings must stop, the wanton destructions of properties must stop, not only within Kaduna state but across the country.

“In the next two, three weeks, there must be very resounding results that will bring these criminals to their knees finally, ” he said.

The army chief further told the soldiers that the bandits are not coming from the moon, or coming from outer space as they are within the territory.

“So I don’t know why you cannot go to where they are and get them fished out.

“I’m happy with the initiative of the General Officer Commanding 1 Division and all the commanders for the new approach and I want to see a decisive result at the end of this operation,” he said.

Mr Buratai said the commanders have briefed him thoroughly of their challenges and he has already started addressing some of these challenges.

He said they must respond decisively and commanders must be personally held responsible for any lapse. They must decide and take appropriate action, and anything outside that, they must be held responsible.

According to him, the next deployment must commence immediately.

The Emir of Birnin-Gwari, Zubairu Jibril Mai Gwari II, expressed confidence in the army.

He said with full military deployment, the bandits can be wiped out within a short period.

“These bandits cannot be contained by mounting of road block or staying on the road, so the security operatives have to take the fight to them in the bush otherwise they will continue to unleash mayhem,” he said.

The Emir explained further that there are some special forces that came recently and performed wonderfully well in the forest around the troubled area.

He appealed to the Chief of Army Staff bring those soldiers back. “If you bring these boys back and even superior officers and personnel, I am sure you will finish them on time, because this is not Sambisa forest. And since the Chief of Army Staff is here, were are sure this thing will come to an end.”

Birnin Gwari has been witnessing insecurity that has claimed lives of soldiers, police men and civilians.