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Ivorian Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly dies at 61

Africa

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July 8, 2020

Ivorian Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly dies at 61

Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly has died, the country’s President announced.

In a statement, President Alassane Ouattara said the nation was in mourning over Coulibaly’s death on Wednesday afternoon, which occurred shortly after he attended a cabinet meeting in the Presidential Palace.

He described the prime minister as his closest collaborator over a 30-year period.

Coulibaly, 61, had been chosen to run as the ruling party’s candidate in this year’s October presidential election.

He had only recently returned from a two-month stay in France where he had been undergoing health check-ups.

At the time, the government said that “after examinations on Monday 4 May at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, he will take a few weeks rest, as prescribed by his doctor.”

Coulibaly arrived back in the Ivory Coast on Thursday

On Twitter, President Ouattara said, “I salute the memory of a statesman, of great loyalty, devotion and love for the homeland. He embodied this young generation of Ivorian leaders of great skill and extreme loyalty to the Nation.”

Je salue la mémoire d’un homme d’Etat, de grande loyauté, de dévouement et d’amour pour la Patrie. Il a incarné cette jeune génération de cadres ivoiriens de grande compétence et d’extrême loyauté à la Nation.

Gen. Buratai and his vision of human rights friendly Army

Security

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July 8, 2020

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Gen. Buratai and his vision of human rights friendly Army

By Philip Agbese

The Nigerian Army has traversed the historical path very gloriously. I have always known it as famous for professional exploits in Nigeria and abroad during peace keeping operations in parts of the world. The United Nations (UN) has severally decorated participating Nigerian soldiers in its Peace Keeping Operations with various revered medals for outstanding performances at different times.

I have no doubt that it is the zenith of earned recognition of professional competence. All over the globe, the performance of the Nigerian Army endears them to people’s hearts infinitely. I have observed overtime in my years of practice as a researcher on human rights law and international humanitarian issues that troops of the Nigerian Army as a state actor are likeable and liked anywhere, they offer service to humanity.

The ECOMOG Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia and the Angolan Peace Keeping amongst an avalanche of others enliven these memories bitingly. Interestingly, the Nigerian Army has just celebrated her 157 years anniversary of existence as an institution.

The Nigerian Army @157 was also marked as the 2020 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL). The NADCEL 2020 theme; Nigeria’s Territorial Defence and Sovereignty: Imperative for Nigeria Army’s Sustained Training and Operations,” again caught my fancy. The theme was lofty, engaging and extremely refreshing for experts in many fields.

I am attached to this year’s theme because it encapsulated the Army’s fixation on the ideals of sustained perfection and excellence which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen TY Buratai has brought to bear . And more pointedly, its constant eagle eyes on excelling on its constitutional roles of securing Nigeria and her peoples.

Days after, echoes of NADCEL 2020 under the incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Punchman of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai are still pulsating with the tenor of fanfare of fabulous achievements, generosity, innovations and unbridled affection for humanity.

Dynamism, we always say, characterizes the world and its humongous, multi-layered institutions. So, the Nigerian Army under its progressive leadership is also enmeshed in a surfeit of enduring changes and improvements for better service delivery in consonance with its core constitutional mandate.

Therefore, as an army that has produced some of the world’s best, it is simply understandable that some milestones must have been documented in so many areas over the decades. But I know the Nigerian Army as persistently striving to see tomorrow as better than yesterday. Therefore, the current era showers the Army with torrents of unbeatable innovations and improvements.

Despite the Army’s diverse formations, departments and units, each one of them has had a taste of Gen. Buratai’s charismatic leadership. A brainly leader by all gradations, his reforms and innovations within the short period of his administration has elevated the Army to unimaginable heights of professional perfection. We cannot say, the Nigerian Army has attained it completely, but astonishing progress has been recorded unparalleled .

A significant and sensitive area in the institution of the Nigerian Army which has suffered desertion and absolute neglect for decades, but Gen. Buratai’s purposeful leadership has initiated and brought to limelight is the crucial issue of observance of human rights. The Army leadership under Gen. Buratai has impinged on the psyche of both its personnel and those the Army seeks to protect within their operational jurisdiction, the essence of upholding the tenets of human rights

As an independent researcher , with near 2 decades studies, I am privileged to closely monitor security events in the country. I can boldly rate the Army under Gen. Buratai as having tremendously improved on its human rights records.

The COAS’ first attention in this area was the initiative of creating the Human Rights Desk at the Army Headquarters’ (AHQs) Abuja. The same has been duplicated in all the major Divisions of the Nigerian Army throughout Nigeria so as to bring access to justice closer to Nigerians. We know every institution has in sufficient quantum, its share of bad eggs.

So, Gen. Buratai has envisaged that once in a while, some soldiers on national service or special assignments could breach professional etiquette or Rules of Engagement (ROE) by violating or abusing the human rights of civilians. My experience in the past was that the Army permanently positioned itself to protect soldiers accused of human rights abuses. But Buratai has put a stop to it. His riot act sounds; “breach the rules and face the consequence.”

The COAS’s establishment of the Human Rights Desk is a practical and novel step designed consciously to improve Military/Civil relations, by allowing civilians who feel their human rights have been abused or unlawfully bruised by soldiers to lodge their complaints to the Army authorities through the Human Rights Desk.

And a personal investigation and observations have confirmed the operationality of the Army’s Human Rights Desk. It has functional phone numbers and officers permanently manning the desks 24 hours per day to receive complaints. Why I even doff my cap for Gen. Buratai the more is the reality that he has broken the jinx or public perception of Army Barracks as impenetrable fortresses for aggrieved civilians.

Now, any civilian who alleges any wrongdoing on him by soldiers freely walks into any Army formation the accused soldier is domiciled to serve him court summons. The Army authorities releases the accused soldier to appear in civilian courts with his lawyers to defend the charges levelled against him. I can confirm that this was impossible in the past and admissibly, a great innovation in recognizing the dignity and fundamental rights of Nigerians.

And more to it, Gen. Buratai does not shield soldiers found complicit of human rights abuses of civilians anywhere. Whether the allegations are specific or general nature, he subjects the suspected soldiers to the lawful disciplinary action and if found guilty, the prescribed punishment is applied.

The Army Chief handles reports of alleged human rights abuses by soldiers with expediency. I still recollect the speed with which the Army boss constituted a Special Military Board of Inquiry to probe allegations of human rights abuses by soldiers operating in the Northeast, as publicized by Amnesty International (AI) in order to ascertain the veracity of the claims.

It turned out that the Military Panel absolved all the accused soldiers over the allegations bandied in public domain by AI. This was later confirmed by confirmed by an independent Presidential Probe Panel constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari over the same matter, following the failure of AI to substantiate the motley of allegations against the Army.

The Nigerian Army under Buratai has court marshalled and punished soldiers from the North to the South who have been accused of maltreating or visiting violence on civilians on the streets of Nigeria severally and punished the culprits accordingly. The Army Chief has truly earned my respect as a patriotic leader who stands for truth whether his primary constituency is involved. Nigerians can attest to this experience at different times.

I can still remember that during the Army’s Operation Python Dance 2 in the South East, armed civilian criminals of the IPOB ilk provoked soldiers on patrol in some parts of Abia state. They pelted soldiers with stones and hurled other dangerous weapons at them.

The action was provocative enough for the soldiers I know their temperament to have triggered violent reaction by opening fire at the aggressors. But none of such happened, because of the discipline of respect for the human rights of Nigerians inculcated in soldiers under Gen. Buratai’s leadership.

And refreshingly too, Gen. Buratai has also revisited the denial of the fundamental human rights or gender disparity against Female Army personnel entrenched in the Nigerian Army for decades. The Nigerian Army had placed a restriction on the commissioning of female officers and their promotion into some special corps. They suffered this gender discrimination, a clear blight on their career and a violation of their fundamental human rights.

However, Gen. Buratai has exited the draconian embargo and female officers are now enjoying same privileges with their male counterparts in the Army. Buratai worked it out and reflective first, in his novel formation of the Special Nigerian Army Female Corps.

The specially trained Army Female Corps are also deployed to the Northeast, where they are fighting Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorists with their male colleagues. I foresee and predictably, the possibility of a day in future, when a female Nigerian Army officer who merits it would be appointed Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff. It is one of the legacies Gen. Buratai would be remembered as an officer who climbed to the pinnacle of his career as the Army attains the age of 157 years.

In a nutshell, the Nigerian Army has done quite very commendably, especially under the leadership of Gen. Buratai , when we make reference to its adherence to human rights prescriptions. It only showcases the Nigerian Army as a worthy institution and it tells us plainly the extent the Army has indeed, come of age in the NextLevel Agenda of President Buhari.

Agbese is a civil rights activist and author and contributed this piece from Abuja.

Former Senate President, Ebute writes Buratai, Nigerian Army troops on their gallantry on insurgency war

Security

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July 8, 2020

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Former Senate President, Ebute writes Buratai, Nigerian Army troops on their gallantry on insurgency war

… urges COAS to double tempo of successes to free Nigeria from killers

Third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute, on Tuesday, penned a touching letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai and the Nigerian Army troops, saluting their gallantry and bravery in the war against insurgency.

In the letter dated July 7th, titled ‘Letter of Gratitude and Garlands to an Outstanding Leader Hero and War Hero’, Senator Ebute said the nation is super proud of the COAS’ stewardship and devotion.

Acknowledging the remarkable progress recorded in the last five years, the elderstatesman, though, urged Lt. Gen. Buratai not to relent on his purposeful leadership that has turned the tide in the country’s favour.

” We are proud of your stewardship and devotion; much more the firm commitment of our soldiers in the defence of our territorial integrity and beloved country under your able leadership,” the letter reads in part.

“I am one among those Nigerian elder statesmen and millions of other well meaning Nigerians who believe absolutely in the indispensability of the Nigerian Army in defence of nationhood, especially at this point in our history. In the last few years, more than ever, the Nigerian Army under your guidance has fostered national security, cohesion, unity, progress and economic prosperity of our nation-state.

” Our most cherished Chief of Army Staff Sir, let me remind you of an African adage which says, ‘Do not throw away the oars before the boat reaches the shore.’ Therefore, never be distracted by the enemies of our country against your good works or like Edmond Mbiaka eloquently puts it; ‘Never let anyone or anything distract you from noticing how amazing you are,’ to Nigerians and the Nigerian Army.

“I am boldly saying this because having evaluated your exemplary leadership of the Nigerian Army since July 2015, and its performance in quelling the multiple security challenges occasioned by insurgency, terrorism and banditry, it is imperative to applaud your performance. We remain grateful to you”.

Among others, Senator Ebute highlighted the peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta region, end to separatism agitations in the South-East, the massively decimated Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and bandits in the North-East and North-west respectively as well as improved welfare for troops as just a few of the numerous achievements of the COAS.

His words: ” It is the focused leadership you have provided to the Nigerian Army that troops were able to reclaim all the 17 LGAs insurgents forcefully captured and annexed in the Northeast. To date and even with the combined forces of ISWAP, no Nigerian territory is under Boko Haram/ ISWAP terrorist’s occupation in courtesy of your exceptional leadership.”

The much-respected elderstatesman went further to admit that “since Boko Haram became a national security threat in Nigeria from 2009 and various Army Generals commanded the war, you are the only leader of the counter-insurgency operations in history, recorded as chasing the factional leader of the extremist sect, Abubakar Shekau to the level of invading the dreaded Sambisa forest.

“It has not escaped the sight of Nigerians that only soldiers under your reign freed the states of Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and hordes of others in the Northwest from the strangulation of armed bandits and cattle rustlers. Your tenure as COAS will be fondly remembered as the only Number One soldier in the nation, who took the welfare of soldiers as top priority by massively undertaking the rehabilitation, renovation and construction of numerous residential and office accommodation for soldiers and their families. ”

While expressing total support for the COAS, Senator Ebute, however, urged him to double the tempo of successes to rid Nigeria of killers.

” As an elder statesman, and in all fairness to my conscience, I have not seen a good and super leadership for the Nigerian Army before now, except under your reign and may be, a few others. It is commendable that President Muhammedu Buhari is right on the saddle and ceaselessly providing mentorship of this leadership of the Army and its effect on the troops is marvelous,” he stated.

“I have a moral responsibility and I believe majority of Nigerians share the feeling with me that we are collectively obligated to support you to do more.”

Pope Condemns ‘Hell’ of Migrant Detention Camps In Libya

World

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July 8, 2020

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Pope Condemns ‘Hell’ of Migrant Detention Camps In Libya

Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the “hellish” migrant detention camps in Libya on the seventh anniversary of his trip to Lampedusa, where many of those fleeing the country for Europe by sea land.

“The war is indeed horrible, we know that, but you cannot imagine the hell that people are living there, in that detention camp. And those people came only with hope of crossing the sea,” he said during a mass at his residence at the Vatican.

In July 2013, the newly elected Pope Francis chose the tiny Mediterranean island for his first trip outside of Rome, where he denounced the “globalisation of indifference” towards migrants.

“I remember that day, seven years ago, in the very south of Europe, on that island…,” he said.

“A number of people told me their stories and all that they had gone through to get there.

“There were interpreters present. One person was telling me about terrible things in his language, and the interpreter seemed to translate well, but this person spoke so long and the translation was brief,” he said.

Francis later found out the translator had “given me the ‘distilled’ version.

“This is what is happening today with Libya: they are giving us a ‘distilled version’,” he said.

Francis regularly expresses solidarity with migrants who cross the Mediterranean and mourns those who lose their lives in the attempt.

He has repeatedly slammed the refusal of richer nations to welcome the refugees.

AFP

Boko Haram: Nigerians in Diaspora pass vote of confidence on Buhari, Service Chiefs

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July 8, 2020

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Boko Haram: Nigerians in Diaspora pass vote of confidence on Buhari, Service Chiefs

…. say some Nigerians are making conclusions without proper analysis of security issues facing the country

Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) United States Chapter have passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and his Service Chiefs for their handling of the insecurity situaton in the county.

According to the group, the Nigerian military has effectively managed the security breaches confronting the nation, thwarting the intent of detractors.

In a statement signed by its President, Cosmos Collins, on Wednesday, NDMG said it drew this conclusion after extensively reviewing the prevailing security situation in the country.

According to the group, the recent charge by President Buhari has spurred the military heads to perform even better than they had done since the inception of his administration. .

Hence, NDMG faulted those jumping into conclusion without proper analysis of the security situation in the country, adding that the call for theService Chiefs’ dismissal is merely a propaganda.

While warning against seeking strange foreign solutions, the group, however, recommended that Nigerians channel energy into leadership, stability and proper financing for the military.

Read full statement below:

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, United States Chapter, has extensively reviewed the prevailing security situation in Nigeria and has come to the conclusion to pass a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and Military Service Chiefs for the manner in which they are handling the insecurity challenge in the country.

We particularly commend President Buhari for the recent push that he gave the security chiefs because we see this as his way of jolting them to perform even better than they had done since the inception of his administration. A leader can only pressure his lieutenants with such intensity when he is confident in their ability to deliver.

In our view, these military leaders remain the best in the sub-region as they have been able to largely contain an internationally-backed terrorists’ insurgency. Inspite of the near absence of advanced technological equipment like drones to fight t, the military has been able to do so much under President Buhari and the Service Chiefs.

What we discovered in the course of reviewing the situation is that Mr President and the Service Chiefs are constantly evaluated by organizations and individuals who do not factor in all the fundamentals driving insecurity in Nigeria.

For instance, there is a penchant to disregard the ignoble roles being played by countries whose activities directly or indirectly support Boko Haram to wage its war against Nigeria.

There is also the failure to acknowledge the international failure in leadership that should have been provided by the United Nations, which as a global body should have taken steps to cut off international support for Boko Haram by censuring countries and organizations that are sponsoring the terrorists. The expectation is that the United Nations would have by now midwife an international coalition to mop up the remnants of Boko Haram that have scattered into the territories of Nigeria’s neighbours as they flee the effective military operation launched against them.

We are equally mindful that the rank of terrorists was swelled up recently by the influx of fighters from other parts of the world into the Lake Chad Basin.

This large-scale migration of terrorists to the region has been responsible for the criminal elements that attempt some daring attacks after it became obvious that the long stay of Gen TY Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff in the theatre of operation resulted in the killing of over 1, 700 terrorists in less than two months.

A natural consequence of this development is the resort to pro-Boko Haram propaganda that manifest as frantic demands for President Buhari to fire the very security chiefs that have consistently helped Nigeria to ward off the terrorist activities of the group. Our expert advised that the intent of this campaign is in three folds. The first is to boost Boko Haram morale, the second is to demoralize government troops and to incite the populace against the military leadership and government.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group, United States Chapter, therefore, urge Nigerians must remain confident in their military leaders, men and women who have shown uncommon zeal and dexterity in handling the insecurity situation in the country. With the benefit of information at our disposal, we came to the logical conclusion to pass a vote of confidence on President Buhari and the military leaders because they have effectively managed the security breaches in the country and thwarting the intent of Nigeria’s detractors.

We warn those seeking strange foreign solutions to be reminded that many countries having the same problems have not achieved a tenth of what President Buhari and these Service Chiefs have achieved. We rather recommend that Nigerians think about leadership
and stability and proper financing for the military to enable the armed forces to consolidate on the gains made so far.

Troops ambush Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno, eliminate 17

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July 8, 2020

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Troops ambush Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno, eliminate 17

Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, on Tuesday, ambushed remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists along Damboa – Maiduguri road, killing 17 and leaving several others injured.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen John Enenche, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

Maj Gen. Enenche disclosed that 25 Task Force Brigade deployed at Damboa in conjunction with elements of Sector 2 Special Forces outflanked and engaged the criminals with an overwhelming volume of firepower forcing them to withdraw in disarray.

“In continuation of their sustained onslaught against remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West African Province criminals and their collaborators, the gallant troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the subsidiary operation, Operation KANTANA JIMLAN have again displayed their combat superiority against the terrorists as part of their heightened offensive operations across the Theatre,” he said.

“Relatedly, on Tuesday 7 July, 2020, the troops of 25 Task Force Brigade deployed at Damboa in conjunction with elements of Sector 2 Special Forces while on clearance operations along Damboa -Maiduguri Road, made contact with a Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals’ ambush team along their axis of advance. Instinctively, the valiant troops outflanked and engaged the criminals with an overwhelming volume of firepower forcing them to withdraw in disarray.

“In the aftermath of the encounter, 17 Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals were neutralized as several others were believed to have narrowly escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds while a cache of arms and ammunition were equally captured by the gallant troops. Regrettably, 2 valiant soldiers paid the supreme price while 4 others were wounded in action. However, the wounded in action soldiers have been evacuated to a military medical facility and currently responding positively to treatment.”

The statement added that the Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been directed to immediately deploy a Special Forces Battalion to reinforce and dominate Damboa – Bulabulin – Maiduguri axis to completely deny the terrorists any chance of escape during the final assault against the criminals.

“Members of the general public particularly residents of the area are also requested to remain calm, law abiding and continue with their routine activities as all necessary measures have been put in by the Theatre Command to ensure all routes are safe for commuting without fear of attack by the criminals,” he said.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai commends the troops for their resilience and patriotism in crushing the remnants of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province criminals and urges them to maintain the tempo against the criminals as we approach the end of the insurgency in our country.”

Operation Sahel Sanity: 46 armed bandits killed as troops repel attack in Batsari, Katsina State

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July 8, 2020

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Operation Sahel Sanity: 46 armed bandits killed as troops repel attack in Batsari, Katsina State

Over 46 armed bandits have been killed in a failed attack as troops of Nigerian Army Super Camp 4 Faskari Operation SAHEL SANITY on 6 Jul 2020 repelled their invasion in Yar Gamji town in Batsari, Katsina State.

According to the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen John Enenche, the operation was conducted as troops responded to a distress call.

”The gallant troops who were just inducted into operation responded swiftly to the call. The troops engaged the criminals thereby neutralized 46 bandits in the encounter while others escaped with gunshot wounds.

Troops of Op SAHEL SANITY are presently in exploitation phase and have dominated the general area with aggressive patrols.” He said

General Enenche called on the general public to disregard news making the rounds in some online media giving unsubstantiated and false information on the incident.

Boko Haram fighters suffer heavy casualties through airstrikes in Gubio

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July 8, 2020

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Boko Haram fighters suffer heavy casualties through airstrikes in Gubio

Troops of Sector 3 and Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE have inflicted casualties on Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs)/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements who attempted to breach Gubio Town in the Northern part of Borno State yesterday, the Defence Headquarters say.

In a statement, Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen John Enenche said several terrorists were crushed and a gun truck destroyed by the combined efforts of the land and air forces who overpowered the BHTs with their superior firepower.

”During the encounter, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and fighter jets were scrambled to the location.

”The ISR aircraft spotted the terrorists in their gun trucks and vectored the jets to engage them, neutralizing one of the gun trucks and its occupants. The ISR aircraft continued to provide situational awareness as the ground troops engaged the terrorists on the ground, inflicting further casualties on the terrorists” He said.

Consequently, the Military High Command has commended Operation LAFIYA DOLE, urging them to intensify their offensives against the terrorists and all other enemies of the Country in the North East while working in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders.

Nigerian Army @ 157, the role of corporate social responsibility in the fight against insurgency

Opinion

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July 8, 2020

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By Tunde Johnson

The Nigerian Army has come a long way. From the West Africa Frontier Force, WAFF, where it evolved to its current designation as Nigeria Army, the NA has seen lots of transformation and changes all aimed at enhancing professionalism and efficient service delivery. For an army that has won many battles and wars, it has however suffered in the aspect of public perception.

Years back, when soldiers are sighted on the streets, people avoid contact with them or even take to their heels, believing that soldiers know nothing other than to ‘obey the last order’ or ‘kill and go.’

Derogatory names such as ‘Ajuwaya, Go and kill,’ ‘Zombies’ etc were given to army personnel to depict the perception of ruthlessness and lack of human feeling they people hold about them. This belief has not been helped by some unfortunate incidences involving the military and the civil populace. The perception intensified over the years with the handling of the issue of the invasion of Fela’s house by unknown soldiers, the malhandling of then popular business mogul by the military and the invasion of Odi and Zaki Biam etc.

When the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai came on board, it was that obvious that he was worried about the perception of the military by the civil populace and set out quite early to give the average Nigerian soldier a positive image that would make them accepted as integral part of the society and as humane and compassionate as every other member of the society can be.

By 2015 when Lt. Gen TY Butatai assumed command as the Chief of Army Staff, our soldiers were already involved in military operations in many parts of the country including the Northeast where insurgency activities had intensified, in Jos, Plateau State, where there were religious crises as well as in Southern Kaduna and other places.

The presence of soldiers in many of these communities, worsened the perception that they were mainly forces of occupation sent to harass and intimidate the people as well as loot the communities to take spoils of war. Protests were being sponsored against the soldiers with naked women chanting insulting slogans asking the soldiers to leave their communities.

The image of the Nigerian Army clearly needed redemption and that was what the army chief sought to achieve when he assumed office.

Lt. Gen Buratai on assumption of office, in no time, introduced corporate social responsibility into the Nigerian Army as a way of creating a relationship between the people and the Army. He knew there was the need to assure the people that the army in keeping to its constitutional responsibilities is not out to humiliate the ordinary citizen but to help in checking the activities of unwanted elements who threaten the sovereignty of the state and quickly put some measures in place.

Luckily, the measures he put in place to achieve this fusion began to work as people began to see the army as not only performing patriotic duties, but as those who feel the pain of those communities.

Soon, it became a common sight to see children and women coming out to cheerfully welcome troops anywhere they are sighted for any operation. Nigerian Soldiers were pleasantly surprised when the people of Gwoza in Borno State, an area which has suffered devastating attacks by terrorists in the past, came out to clap and hail them as they were passing through the town after a major operation. It was obvious that the people are beginning to realise that the soldiers are not what they had believed them to be.

Apart from helping to deescalate criminal activities in many parts of Nigeria, the soldiers have undertaken to do more to assure citizens of their good intentions. They have organised classes for warring communities, helped in clearing blocked drainage through environmental sanitation exercises, constructed bridges and other public service structures and donate to communities and have equally engaged members of communities in dialogue.

The Chief of Army staff, for instance, took the level of interaction with the populace at the highest level by personally going to communities and speaking with the people. He has several times gone to Borno and Yobe States to assure communities of the capacity of troops to handle threatening security situations and has been to Katsina, Zamfara and to Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State to have a firsthand impression of the problems there.

In Birnin Gwari, the army constructed a bridge over a stream that made it difficult for vehicles to pass. The army chief also flagged-off the 2 Battalion Forward Operation Base (FOB) in fulfilment of his promise to establish an army formation in the area.

Prior to Birnin Gwari, the army chief laid the foundation stone ‎ for the building of a military barracks in Kafanchan in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State in fulfillment of the Federal Government’s promise to establish two military formations in Southern Kaduna to ensure security in the zone.

Then in May 2017, Buratai commissioned the Nigerian Army School of Artillery Officers Mess which provides accommodation for troops when they report to new units before they are quartered. This one may say is for the Army alone but help to bring development n terms of social amenities such as schools, hospitals etc which are shared with the host communities.

One of the most commendable efforts of the army in this regard, is the commissioning of situation rooms for election monitoring to stop violence. This was Lt. Gen Buratai’s way of contributing to a transparent election unlike in the past where soldiers go into unholy alliance with politicians to rig elections in Nigeria. Our last election cannot be adjudged as the best in history but one credible exercise that international observers have continued to laud the role of the Army.

Buratai explained during the commissioning that post election violence which characterized previous elections clearly highlights the challenges posed by incidents of electoral violence in the country, hence he said, the NA saw the need to devise new strategies of stemming such ugly tides or completely eliminate them..

He said, having observed this cycle of violence reoccur severally in past electioneering processes, the NA has thus deemed it necessary to adopt a proactive and responsive posture that would allow it better respond to early signs of insecurity before they could escalate into a major security challenge.

In the Northeast, the Chief of Army Staff also added value to the lives of the people of the region by building an army university in Biu, one of the local governments being targeted by the insurgents. A development model for the north east mirrored after countries that have witnessed wars in the past and how the scars were wiped out.

Lt. Gen. Buratai also established Nigerian Army Brigades in Monguno, Gubio, Gwoza, Damaturu and Damboa to enhance security in the area. This is because as a war strategist. Gen. Buratai understood that holding a recovered ground is more important in any war than just winning the battle.

He designayed the Sambisa Forest as Nigerian Army Training Area and established a Command Secondary School to help with the education of their children .

The measures have worked to such an extent that these days, when troops are sighted, people no longer run to take cover but come out to shake hands with them. At 157, the people of Nigeria can proudly call the Nigeria Army their own.

Johnson is a freelance journalist based in Lagos.

You came at a time Nigeria needed you most, proud citizen hails ‘mother’ Sadiya Farouq in open letter

Opinion

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July 8, 2020

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You came at a time Nigeria needed you most, proud citizen hails ‘mother’ Sadiya Farouq in open letter

A well-meaning Nigerian has described Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk as an “epitome of true motherhood” who came at a time Nigeria needed her the most.

Priscila Guoti, who simply dubbed herself as a ‘proud Nigerian’ made this known in an open letter to the minister, published on her social media platforms.

Established in August 2019, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, was among others, tasked with providing humanitarian policies, coordinating humanitarian interventions and ensuring strategic disaster mitigations.

Hajiya Sadiya was saddled with the responsibility of piloting this infant ministry and Guoti believes that decision by President Muhammadu is a shrewd one.

Guoti said Hajiya Sadiya’s “passion to work for the upliftment of the vulnerable in the society” propelled her into writing the letter.

Outlining the minister’s impact barely one year in office, Gouti added that the ” efforts you put in during the Covid-19 lockdown saw to the delivery of palliatives to thousands of persons”.

She further disclosed that, “your initiative not to relax the school feeding programmes but to extend it to homes was another brilliant idea that helped indigent families to continue the mental and physical building of their children”.

According to the Lagos-based lady, the minister’s biggest achievement yet is the introduction of the N-Power Batch C sheme which could potentially benefit 4,000 young Nigerians.

While applauding her dedication and commitment to the job, Gouti, however, urged Hajiya Farouq not to relent or distracted by enemies of humanity, assuring her of the prayers of Nigerians.

Read full letter below:

It is said that when a child looks into a mother’s eyes while being carried in her arms, you’ll know that is the purest love he has found on earth; because, a mother’s arms are made of tenderness and love.

Though you are not our biological mother, the brief period you have stayed in office has given us; we, the women of Nigeria, the kind of joy a child gets when in the arms of a loving mother.

Since you were appointed a minister in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari and given a portfolio that requires compassion and love for the people, I have noticed your passion to work for the upliftment of the vulnerable in the society and that is why I have decided to write a public letter to you.

I apologise if my action will cause you any embarrassment, but I think it will be the height of ingratitude to see something going well and fail to commend it for fear of being labelled.

Honourable Minister, I have seen the uncommon intellect you have brought to bear in the ministry of humanitarian affairs and the energy you have devoted to working out programmes that would see to the development of the society at large and I commend your efforts.

President Buhari is indeed a visionary leader for him to have created a ministry that would take care of emergencies and appointed you as its minister even when there was no outbreak of the coronavirus Pandemic.

One cannot imagine what would have happened if the ministry of humanitarian affairs was not created and you appointed as a minister when the pandemic broke out.

The efforts you put in during the Covid-19 lockdown saw to the delivery of palliatives to thousands of persons and the ministry was able to reach out to an equal number of households with relief items.

I am based in Ikeja, Lagos State, and as a small scale business owner who was compelled to close her shop for months, I have seen the effect of your work on our women who collected various sums of money and food items that helped them in surviving the lock down period.

Your initiative not to relax the school feeding programmes but to extend it to homes was another brilliant idea that helped indigent families to continue the mental and physical building of their children.

This has turned out to be a most welcome idea because of the impact on children and the relief it brought on their parents who were under pressure to provide for them when no economic activity was going on was massive.

Honourable Minister, one of the most important things you have done which promises to profoundly affect the lives of people positively is the introduction of the Batch C, N-Power Scheme.

The programme when it was introduced in 2016 sounded to us like a fairly tale until we started seeing beneficiaries making good use of their earnings under the programme to start businesses and raise the living standards of their families.

By the time we began to appreciate how the government was helping people, it was too late for those of us who had not applied.

Honourable Minister, if not for you, the 5,000 beneficiaries of the first and second phases of the programme would have continued even when many of them have been able to establish their own businesses while some of us that missed the first and second flights would have been left stranded at the airport.

But your intervention, has opened a window of opportunity for fresh set of 4,000 people to enrol and our joy knows no bound.

Though our applications are yet to be confirmed, the hope that there’s a possibility for some of us to qualify and be paid about N30,000 a month means a lot to us.

I am not asking for any favours or undue considerations over others, my concern is that more people would have the opportunity that others have had which have stabilised their families and given them a legitimate source of livelihood.

Even if I don’t qualify, the fact that some other people would, gives me great joy as the overall impact would also trickle down on me.

I have heard some people trying to criticise the initiative due to one reason or the other but I will advise you to remain focused and not shift ground because you have taken the right decision that would broaden the scope of poverty alleviation in our country and bring succour to many.

You have come a time when Nigeria needs you most as the post-pandemic era threatens to come with its challenges.

We implore you Honourable Minister to once again use your out-of-the-box calculus to see to the success of the N-Power Batch ‘C’ programme or introduce new schemes that will focus on the plight of rural women.

Honourable Minister, you must not be distracted by whatever names the enemies of humanity are calling you.

You must remain focused and committed to the virtues of accountability, humility and kindness to succeed as the success of the programmes you have embarked on so far all bear testimony to your courage and integrity.

Do not relent and I can assure you that we will continue to pray for you to succeed.