The Chief of Army Staff,Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has said that the Nigerian army remain resolute in doing everything possible to ensure that subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of Nigeria do not achieve their aims and objectives of destabilisation.
The CAS stated this at the end of with Principal Officers(PSOs),General Officers Commanding(GOCs) and Field Commanders at the Army Headquarters on Monday.
Lt Gen Buratai also directed that they (PSOs, GOCs and Field Commanders) must reiterate to all their subordinates that the NA is determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria as the only panacea for development and progress.
He charged them to show the detractors and other elements of destabilization that they are neither part of them nor in anyway supportive of their activities at all times while directing that any act of arson or attempt to kill or maim any military or security personnel and other law abiding civilians must be responded to quickly and decisively.
A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations,Col. Sagir Musa quoted CAS as saying “The best system of governance is democracy and we must all ensure that Nigeria’s democracy remains stable and steady. We will not allow any force, elements or destabilising agents in or outside our country to set our beloved country on fire.
General Buratai who lamented the event of the last few days across the country said it has become obvious that some unscrupulous individuals and groups want to distabilize the country especially with the widespread of violence, wanton distruction and looting of public and private properties.
He noted that from the onset of #EndSARS protest the Force has been aware of the grand plan of the sponsors to draw it into crisis and embark on massive propaganda to discredit the military and the government.
” These agitators are falsely accusing the NA of being responsible for the activities of the miscreants despite glaring evidence to the contrary. They have continually threatened to report the NA to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also threatened various forms of sanctions against personnel and their families.
The CAS further said -“Despite all these, the NA has continued to exercise restraint applied all the Principles of Internal Security Operations and fully abided by the internationally recognized Rules of Engagement as contained in our published Standard Operating Procedures for Internal Security Operations which are derived from the International Human Rights Laws and are in accordance with the international principles guiding the use of force”.
“He used the opportunity to re-emphasize that none of the PSOs, GOCs, Field Commanders and other officers and soldiers of the NA should be afraid of the ICC for carrying out their legitimate duties as stated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other extant laws, rules and regulations of Nigeria.”
He further averred that -“They have every right under the Constitution to carry out assigned and legitimate roles of maintaining law and order in aid of civil authorities and other security agencies.
According to him -“In dealing with any security threat, they must fully cooperate with personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies and must ensure that everyone is in full compliance with imposed curfews and any other extant security instructions in force”.
General Buratai also alerted the PSOs, GOCs and Field Commanders that -“The recent activities by unscrupulous elements have shown their desire to acquire arms and ammunition at all cost from security personnel. No less than 10 AK-47 rifles have been lost to these miscreants in the past 2 weeks across the country with attendant lost of lives of personnel.
He charged Commanders to nip in the bud this emerging trend at all cost, and directed them to warn their troops on internal security or on guard duties outside the barracks to be at maximum alert at all times and to also deal decisively with any attack on their duty locations”.
General Buratai concluded that – “There is no choice between a democratically United, strong and prosperous Nigeria and a nation disunited in a state of anarchy and retrogression. We must all strive for a united, strong, stable and progressive Nigeria”.
At the end of the meeting the PSOs, GOCs and Field Commanders resolved to ensure the unity and Indivisibility of the country, to bring an end to insecurity across the country and to prevent miscreants and criminals from hijacking the ENDSARS protest nation wide.
