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Buhari and
Osinbajo decorate newly confirmed service chiefs
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Service Chiefs got yesterday a three months deadline to crush
Boko Haram – the sect that has given Nigeria horrors. President Muhammadu
Buhari gave the directive during the officers’ swearing in and decoration with
new ranks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Those decorated yesterday after their appointment on July 13 are General
Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff; Lt.-General T.Y. Buratai
– Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff
and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff.
The Nation report
continues:
The Commander-in-Chief,
who noted that the officers were qualified for the appointments, urged them to
end Boko Haram’s terrorism in three months.
He said: “Rightly, the
armed forces have been in the vanguard of the fight against terrorism. While
commending the efforts of the armed forces so far, you need to brace and
continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well-coordinated
joint effort, which will bring a desired end to this insurgency within three
months.
“In the course of
carrying out this assignment, you must be accountable for all men and equipment
placed under your command. Your troops’
welfare must be uppermost
in your mind. Take care of them and make available what is due to them.
“Concerted efforts should
also be made to make judicious use of resources that are available to you in
search for solution to these challenges.
“On our own part, we
shall be ready to give you the needed resources to achieve this feat. You will
recall I have been to several countries with the sole aim of canvassing for
global support to eliminate terrorism from Nigeria.
“These efforts, which
include establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force, should be
complemented by you. You should therefore re-professionalize your force and
give your troops creditable training so that they can perform their job
creditably
“You should also ensure
that they abide with the newly enforced rules and regulations of international
standards while carrying out their assigned tasks. In particular you must
protect innocent civilians ….and respect the rights of combatant ….”
This, Buhari said, will
earn the support of local communities, respect of allies and support of
international community.
He went on: “Therefore, I
have no doubt in my mind that all of you are equal to the task ahead of you.
You must acquaint yourselves and justify the honour done to you.”
The President recalled
that the activities of misguided groups and individuals have resulted in wanton
destruction of lives and properties of Nigerians and disruption of social
economic lives of millions of Nigerians.”
On behalf of the Service
chiefs, the Chief of Defence Staff said they would not let down the nation just
as he asked for the cooperation of all to defeat the sect.
Speaking with State House
correspondents at the end of the ceremony, Gen. Olonishakin said: “We are
already strategising on how to handle most of the challenges since we were
appointed.
“And all these strategies
we are beginning to put them in place, so we’ll just put in more efforts to
ensure that we achieve the desire of the President.”
On if three months was
enough to crush Boko Haram, Gen. Olonishakin said: “The President has given a
presidential directive.”
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