Buratai: Rejuvenating the Nigerian Army

Dealing with insurgents is the most difficult warfare any country would ever want to encounter because of several factors and one of the major factor is that the enemy is domiciled within the country. In the history of the Nigerian Army, there was never a time like now when the professionalism has been tested, tried […]

Dealing with insurgents is the most difficult warfare any country would ever want to encounter because of several factors and one of the major factor is that the enemy is domiciled within the country.

In the history of the Nigerian Army, there was never a time like now when the professionalism has been tested, tried and stretched to the limit.
Since mid 2015, the army has taken giant strides that has made the country safe in several dimensions.

The professionalism of the army since the past one year and a half can be attributed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai.
Buratai has consistently decried the failure of values in the military, particularly those that were premised on professionalism, regimentation and discipline.

The aforementioned was brought to the fore by this man at the helms of affair who has always been progressing towards a paradigm shift.
The paradigm shift was clearly enunciated when the troop of the Nigerian Army gave the nation a noble Christmas gift on December 22 when the last component of the Boko Haram insurgency from the Sambisa Forest were displaced at the “Camp Zero”, stronghold of the sect in the heart of the forest.

The gallant troops also dismantled the official Boko Haram terrorists’ flag at Camp Zero signifying the capture of the insurgents’ headquarters.
The fall of Sambisa to the Nigerian military is a major milestone in the fight against the insurgency that has held the nation captive for over six years.

In his goodwill message to troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole on the successful capture of the Boko Haram enclave in Sambisa Forest, President Muhammadu Buhari said that he was proud of the troops and delighted at, and most proud of the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army.

With the managerial style of COAS, the Fourth Estate of the realm also commended the efficacy of the Nigerian Army in September this year.
The Nigerian Union of Journalists as a union has been at the forefront of the advocacy against the military government formerly.
Now assessing the achievements of the army in rebuilding and securing the country in the last one year had no choice than to openly commend them.
NUJ had said that residents of the North East can now sleep with their two eyes closed as a result of the gallantry of the Nigerian military, which has degraded the Boko Haram insurgents in the region.
The journalists also lauded the COAS for his leadership skills, which has restored glory to the Nigerian Army, while also commending the military for robust relationship with the media.

The President of the NUJ, Waheed Odusile’s assertion that Nigerians are proud of the Army for restoring pride to the nation through their gallantry connotes a lot of meaning in the positive direction-from any point of view.
The courageous and dedicated war against terrorism and the release of some of the kidnapped Chibok girls cannot be left out.

Early last year, the Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lt.-Gen. Ashraf Saleem (rtd), also commended the Nigerian Armed Forces over the achievements recorded against Boko Haram.
The success achieved by the COAS can only be achieved by careful planning, good management and prudence.

Armed with this understanding, Buratai rekindled the morale of the officers and men deployed against the terrorists, paying all allowances and benefits of soldiers hitherto withheld by their superiors.
This will definitely boost the morale of the army and enable them to perform better.

The morale in question is also directed to the personnel of the Nigerian army, who are ready to work well under the right leadership.
By ensuring the inclusion of barracks renovation in the 2016 federal budget, which has resulted in the massive renovation of residential and office accommodation, the building of new barracks for soldiers across the country.

The Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia Kaduna State, Office of the Military Secretary, the ongoing army barracks building in Otukpo, Benue
state and others, Burutai has demonstrated the management trait required from a leader.

Burutai has created this stabilizing effect within the period in office by constantly appealing to the public to always avail the military or any nearby security agency of any useful information that would lead to the continued success in the counter-insurgency war.

The meetings with security heads including the police, Department of State Services and representatives of companies also give the stabilizing effect to the people required from a COAS.

His recent proposal to the militants in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria to speak with one voice, if they expect to be taken seriously is a right step in unifying the civil populace for optimum result.

The proliferation of groups, who claim to be Niger Delta militants, do not come across as a genuine move for peace, as Burutai affirmed, is step in the right direction and the “Exercise Crocodile Smile” not to be mistaken for an invasion in the Niger Delta region sheds more insight about the army’s operations.

Burutai’s mandate to military personnel to respect the rights of law abiding citizens in their areas of operation whom he said were critical to the success of the exercise also shows a leader that respects human rights of individuals.

Within months of being appointed as chief of army staff, the entire outlook on the terrorism war changed, with the Nigerian troops leading the onslaught and rescuing several hostages, the success achieved within a short period.

Suddenly, Nigerians started to believe in the Nigerian army again with several commendations from individual and places that had earlier criticized them for not doing enough in terms of securing the country.

Uzezi Onovre, Chartered Accountant, writes from Delta State