‘A very difficult period’, Buratai recounts tenure as Army Chief

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), has described his tenure as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, as a “very difficult period”.

Buratai was in charge of the army between July 2015 and January 2021.

He was later appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former Army Chief said while in office, Boko Haram terrorists were on a rampage, making it a volatile, uncertain, and complex period.

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He also said there was opposition and mischief within the sociopolitical and geographical environment in the North East when he became the Army Chief.

A statement on Sunday by his Media Assistant, Ibrahim Danfulani, said Buratai stated this while appreciating members of the 29th Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy during their Annual General Meeting in Borno state.

He said, “You stood by me when I was Chief of Army Staff in a very difficult period, the time of the Boko Haram rampage and it was a period that was volatile, uncertain, complex and of course ambiguous in the environment and times as well. The environments were charged with so much opposition and mischief that is within the sociopolitical environment and within the geographical environment of the northeast also was tense with the various attacks that have been going on in this area but you stood by me and supported me and together, we succeeded.”

Buratai also appreciated the troops for sustaining the tempo of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

He said, “Nine years ago, we would never have had the opportunity to gather like this here in Borno and Maiduguri in particular. Once it is 2 o’clock as someone said, everyone goes inside and remains there till the following morning, probably nine or 10.

“The restrictions were heavy, the atmosphere was charged with so much insecurity. But today, to the Glory of Almighty God, we are thankful to God for the sustained counterinsurgency operations leading to the sustainable security being achieved and being experienced today in the Northeast.”