Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff, Tukur
Buratai, has vowed that under his command,
Boko Haram would either beg for a cease-fire
or face the wrath of highly motivated and
combat ready soldiers.
The Borno State-born Major General, who took
over command of the nation’s army last week,
said he was ready to lead soldiers to the dens
and enclaves of the insurgents.
He has therefore re-christened the operational
code of the counter insurgency efforts from
“Operation Zaman Lafiya” to “Operation
Zaman Lafiya Dole” – which in Hausa means
‘the quest for peace becomes a must’.
Buratai, who was in Yobe State to celebrate
the Islamic Eid-el-fitri festival with Nigerian
troops, moved to Borno on Sunday afternoon.
He arrived Maiduguri by road and was
received by the Borno State Deputy Governor,
Zannah Mustapha, who immediately
accompanied the army boss to visit the 103
Battalion of the 7 Division, Maiduguri in
Konduga Town where they hailed the troops
gallantry.
“The ongoing activities of Boko Haram is
assuming an alarming dimensions in Borno
state and other parts of the north east,”
Buratai said. “We will not tolerate the killing
of citizens and destruction of property; in as
much as we urge you (troops) to adhere
strictly to human rights abuses, the time to
crush Hoko Haram and other criminal
activities in this country is now or never.”