NADCEL: Buhari Vows to Punish Murderous Criminals in Whatever Guise
President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that the federal government will not allow anyone Killer under any guise to go unpunished.
He spoke at the 2019 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) held at the Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos, in commemoration of the service’s 156th anniversary.
Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the federal government was working seriously with other states to contain herders-farmers conflicts, banditry and terrorism saluting the army for its efforts to save the country from disintegration.
He said: “Nobody will be allowed to maim, kill or commit other crimes and escape. It is our duty to apprehend and punish these criminals and we are doing and will continue to do so.
“Herder and farmer conflicts, random killings, banditry and kidnapping some attributed to Fulani bandits, in different parts of the country are extant challenges that the army has had to intervene in on several occasions. I want to reassure all Nigerians that these issues are being seriously tackled by the Federal Government, working with the states, through a multi-pronged approach.
“You will be hearing a lot more about these solutions in the weeks and months ahead. Law enforcement is of course an important element of the response.
“We have seen an unprecedented ramping up of the deployment of military personnel- multi-agency intervention squads like Operation Whirlstroke. The training and deployment of Special Forces, new Forward Operating Bases, and so on – to the flashpoints, in the last eighteen months.
“Several bandits’ hideouts and camps have been destroyed, and hundreds of arrests have been made, and it is now up to our judicial systems to ensure that justice is meted out not just comprehensively but also in a timely manner.”
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. -Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the Army Day was an opportunity to showcase the history, values, achievements and combat capacity of the Army.
Buratai pledged that the Army would continue to be ruthless to all the criminal elements that disturbed the peace and security of the country.
” We are all aware that the country is facing numerous security challenges and this has necessitated our involvement in conducting operations aimed at tackling the numerous nefarious acts of criminal elements to restore sanity to our dear country.
“Our efforts must not be relaxed until we have achieved the complete defeat of insurgency and other criminalities in the country,” he said.
Buratai thanked President Buhari, the legislature and State Governments for their support and encouragement to the Army.
The Chief of Army Staff Commendation Awards were conferred on serving and retired officers for operational excellence, bravery, gallantry, innovative services and contributions to the development of the Nigerian Army.
Each awardee would get a N2 million cash reward. There was also the unveiling of first indigenous Light Armoured vehicles.
Some dignitaries present at the event were the former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and
Also present were Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, represented by Sen. Solomon Adeola, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Acting Chairman EFCC Mr Ibrahim Magu and Chairman NDLEA and representatives of the CNS, IGP, DG SSS, attended the event.
Others are former CDS and Service Chiefs Gen ML Agwai, Lt Gens Akinrinade, Alwali Kazir, AO Ihejirika and KTG Minimah respectively. On the whole, many senior military officers both serving and retired, Captains of industries, our Royal fathers including Oba of Lagos and other notable personalities attended the historic event. Here are some pictorial news of the occasion. Further details later please.
By PRNigeria
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