Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has blamed terrorist sect, Boko Haram for reports revealing he had several properties in Dubai.

The Army Chief was speaking at a media briefing to usher in the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, 2016 in Abuja.

The Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) is an annual event first celebrated on 6th July 1978 in solemn remembrance of a historic shot on 6th July 1967.

It marks the commencement of the country’s 30-month civil war to keep Nigeria united.

Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General Buratai said the report claiming he had properties in Dubai was a ‘concerted effort of ‎mischief makers’.

Nigerian online media, SaharaReporters had on June 25 reported that Buratai and his two wives were joint owners of a Dubai property that was paid for in one transaction.

It said the money for the purchase of the property may have come from a vehicle contract scam while Buratai was the Director of Procurement at the Army HQ.

It added that General Buratai had paid a total sum of AED 1,498, 534.00 (N115.6m) because the sellers gave concessions of AED 43,466, made up of “incentives, promotions, and early payment bonus.”

However responding to the report, General Burutai urged Journalists to be “more committed in the fight against terrorism and shun any bandwagon to report unverified negativities to the detriment of national peace and security.

“We have already defeated the insurgents and terrorists on the land. Now they have migrated to the Internet and other print and electronic media.

“But I want to assure you that these terrorists – Boko Haram terrorists – who have migrated to the cyber space, we will follow them to the cyber space and equally defeat them.”

On the issue of retirement of some senior officers of the Force, he insisted that due process was followed, adding that “it is a good idea that ‎some of them are opting to go to the court. Let them go I think that is the right place for them to get a redress if actually they were wronged.”

The Nigerian army had last week said it is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties in Dubai.

In a statement issued, the army said the homes were paid for instamentally through personal savings three years ago.

“This, along with other personal assets have consistently been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as Commander Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army Staff,” the army said. (tv360nigeria.com)

•Photo shows General Buratai.