Gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Army who paid the supreme sacrifice in the course of prosecuting the ongoing war on terror or in any theatre of operation are not and will never be forgotten. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai gave this reassurance when he received in audience the Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd) who led the management of the centre to pay him a courtesy visit in his office.

Gen Buratai stated that the troops of the Nigerian Army are gallant patriots who have the interest of the corporate existence and integrity of the Nigerian state at heart and have sworn to do anything and everything possible, including laying down their lives, in order to the defend the country.

Buratai said: “The Army will henceforth ensure that gallant soldiers who die in action are given a publicised befitting burial with full military honours.

“In fact, even if it means conducting it in arrears, we will ensure that our fallen heroes are given befitting national burials. Aside from that, we have also ensured that immediate family members of our fallen officers and soldiers receive prompt payment of all their entitlements and other welfare supports.”

While noting that the Nigerian troops are engaged in various operations across the country in line with its constitutional responsibility, the Army Chief charged every patriotic Nigeria citizen to do whatever he or she can do to ensure the safety and progress of the country.

On the recent altercation with Shiites group in Zaria, Gen Buratai maintained the Army’s position that there was nothing like premeditated murder of some of the sect’s members as alleged by such groups as Amnesty International. “How can anybody accuse a responsible armed agency of government of murder? On the contrary, the people were attacking the soldiers with petroleum bomb and other weapons. In actual fact, not all of them knew how to handle Molotov they were trying to use against the Army and it back fired on them.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd), commended the Nigerian Army for its unwavering commitment to the defence of the country from external aggression and internal insurrection. “We have noted significant successes in the fight against terror since you mounted the saddle of leadership of this great Army and we are happy to say that you have acquitted yourself creditably so far.” Anas also commended that public relations and information management of the Army noting that it has been very vibrant. (PRNigeria)

•Photo shows Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Buratai, and Executive Secretary, Centre for Crisis Communication, retired Air Comdr Anas Yusuf (centre) with military officers and management of CCC at Army HQ Abuja.