Buratai Speaks On Boko Haram Ending If He Is Sacked As Army Chief

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, says President Muhammadu Buhari sacking his service chiefs will not end Boko Haram.

NewsOne Nigeria reports that Buratai’s statement is coming after the Senate, House of Representatives and Nigerians had called on President Buhari to replace his service chiefs as they have not done enough to curb insecurity in the country.

But speaking in an interview with TheCable and THISDAY/ARISE in Lagos on Tuesday, the Nigerian Army Chief warned against pushing Buhari into sacking his security chiefs.

The Army Chief said the solution to ending killings in Nigeria was not the removal of service chiefs as Buhari “knows where it pinches” and is the right arbiter.

His words: “I am tempted not to comment on this particular issue because I am directly involved. However, I want to believe that whatever happens, the commander-in-chief is the right arbiter, and he knows where it pinches, he knows where the problems are. I think the decision should be left to him. He should not be pushed or prompted in this regard.”

Buratai said: “We are into a very serious issue which should not be taken lightly”, adding: “This is why when you say a particular crop of leaders in the military should be removed for whatever reason, it sounds very odd because we are not addressing the issues. I am not saying this because I am the chief of army staff and I do not want to leave. No, that is not the issue. It is beyond that because this is a national issue, an issue of national pride and national interest. Those who would cry loudly against the service chiefs are within, and they are the ones who should be more vocal in the things that are not going right.”

General Buratai also insisted that the war against insurgency has been won as the Boko Haram terrorists do not control any Nigerian territory.

The Nigerian army chief, however, said that the war against terror will continue because the terrorists now feast on attacking soft targets “for the sake of propaganda”.