ABUJA – Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai, yesterday, held his first briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was for the new Army chief to further understand President Buhari’s expectations from him.
This is even as he assumed office yesterday, having taken over from his predecessor, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah, who urged him to sustain the ongoing fight against insurgents in the Northeast.
Lt-Gen. Minimal noted that his 18 months as the Chief of Army Staff was very challenging as the nation’s Army battled to reclaim her almost lost glory as a result of the ongoing fight against insurgency in the north east.
In his response however, the new Chief of Army Staff promised unfolding his operational plans for tackling insurgency in the days ahead.
Also speaking to State House correspondents after his meeting with President Buhari, Gen. Buratai he noted that he would be travelling to Damaturu, Yobe State, to celebrate Sallah with troops fighting the Boko Haram sect.
“I am just a few hours on the seat. We will be talking later, but I will be going to Damaturu tomorrow to visit the troops. I want to go and celebrate Sallah with them,” the Army chief stressed.
Earlier on Monday July 13, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the Heads of Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The President later approved the appointments of: Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff; Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan – Chief of Defence Intelligence; Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser
According to sources close to the military hierarchy in Abuja, the new Service Chiefs were all expected to assume office yesterday
The Boko Haram had appeared to be loosing its grip on the Northeast region, when the Nigerian military launched a seemingly successful operation to reclaim all territories lost to the insurgents.
However, with about 500 lives lost in recent suicide bombings in Yobe, Kaduna, Plateau and Kano states, there had been renewed pressure on the military for a more effective approach to the war on terror.
