CHIEF of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-Gen Tukur Buratai has arrived in Borno State after spending the Sallah holidays with troops in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
He immediately went to Konduga, headquarters of Konduga Local Government Area, where he launched ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole’, a new operational code for the counter-insurgency fight in the Northeast.
Accompanied by Borno State Deputy Governor Zannah Umar Mustapha and other military top brass, the COAS appealed to the troops and other security agencies?
He also called for collaboration from the general public to end the Boko Haram crisis, stressing that “without cooperation, determination and discipline among all and sundry, it would be difficult to defeat terrorists”.
His words: “The ongoing activities of Boko Haram is assuming an alarming dimensions in Borno and other parts of the Northeast. We’ll 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 Boko Haram and other criminal activities in this country is now or never.
“As Chief of Army Staff, I will be actively involved in this ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole’ to end the madness of Boko Baram if I will have your collective maximum support and cooperation.
“My doors will always remain open to all of you for constructive criticism and advices towards restoration of peace in this part of the country.
“Therefore, we are here to identify with you and to officially inform you that as from today henceforth, we have changed our operational code from ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya’ to ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole’.
The deputy governor praised the Army chief and the General Officers Commanding 7 and 3 Divisions for taking their time to visit the state to see the troops.
He promised that the state government will continue to support the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram even as he said that the sect once sacked almost 22 local government areas of the state with thousands of people mostly villagers killed and millions displaced.
At the Shehu’s palace, Buratai described the visit as a homecoming for him.
“This is my first official courtesy call since my appointment as army chief,” he said.
He said the peace and tranquility associated with Borno will now return, pledging the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to restore peace.
Buratai said: “We will need the support of the royal father and the people of Borno that we will ensure peace return to the entire region.
“Since BH terrorists have rejected peace (Zaman Lafiya), we’ll now force them to accept peace. The peace that permeated Borno and transcend Lake Chad will soon return.”
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