Don’t glorify Boko haram, bandits, kidnappers, Buratai cautions media, clerics, general public



The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has cautioned religious leaders as well as the media not to glorify bandits, ethnic militias and kidnappers through their reportage and comments that painted a picture of the criminals being stronger than the military and security agencies.

He said such undue publicity and praise singing of the criminal elements would only motivate them to commit more atrocity at the detriment of the society.

The Army Chief’s caution came against the backdrop of recent comments in the media by some clerics and commentators on activities of bandits in the North West, and ethnic militias in some states in the North Central.

Last week, the Catholic Bishop of Yola, Reverend Stephen Mamza, blamed the Federal Government for not doing enough on recent killings by bandits and militias in Zamfara and Katsina, Benue, Nasarawa and Adamawa states.   

But the Army Chief speaking at the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference and Combat Support Arms Week in Jaji, Kaduna State, said: “the criminals and bandits are only as strong as the society paints or view them and further propagated by the media.”

He said: “Information and intelligence flows from the people and indeed from the press and the public. Such criminal activities are intelligence based and the people are, in this regard, to provide timely information and clear identifications of the perpetrators. Undue publicity and praise singing of the bandits and other criminal elements would only motivate them to commit more criminal acts at the detriment of the society.

“The press, the general public, security analysts and public commentators are advised to show more maturity and due diligence in this collective effort of ridding the country of criminals and criminalities.

“Of recently there have been comments by civil society organisations, different interest groups and clergies on the state of security in the country. Many of these stakeholders have painted very gloomy picture of the current security situation. While no one can deny the prevailing state of insecurity in some parts of the country, the situation has not degenerated to the desperate levels as claimed by the commentators.

“Every Nigerian, including the Imams and Pastors, has a part to play in the moral rectitude of the society. The state of insecurity in some parts of the country is partly attributed to the moral decadence in the society. And our religious leaders have very important role to play as our spiritual moral guidance. Blaming the government and security agencies, while not making expected moral contributions will certainly not bring an end to the security challenges we are facing today.

“Rather than blames these religious leaders should pray for the criminals and the bandits to change their ways; and also to pray for the government and security agencies to succeed.”

Buratai said the army had employed and rejuvenated the same strategy used to curtailing criminalities in the South South and South East to solve the security challenges in the North West and North Central, which he said has necessitated the launching of OPERATION HARBIN KUNAMA III.

“The concept of this operation will require the combat arms as well as all combat support and combat support services working in synergy with other security agencies, the traditional institutions and other stakeholders to get rid of criminal elements,” he said.

The Army Chief charged field commanders to convert information flow into “actionable and timely intelligence for troops to take proactive measures and to support and drive targeted operations.”

He also charged them to relate with the society and other security agencies in their efforts to bring the high rate of kidnapping, acts of banditry and attacks on villages leading to killings in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and Katsina States to an end.

“There must be sustained synergy, cooperation and collaboration with all stakeholders in these endeavours,” he said.

The Army Chief also saluted troops for “turning the battle momentum against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, and the professional manner with which the Nigerian Army supported the civil authorities to ensure the successful conduct of the 2019 General Elections.”

He said the fight against Boko Haram requires a combine holistic approach by the countries of the Lake Chad Commission to ensure its total defeat.

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