“Sack of service chiefs over Boko Haram attacks would not end insurgency” - Yusuf Buratai

Nigeria’s Chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has stated that the sack of service chiefs over the recent escalation of Boko Haram attacks would not end insurgency in the country.

In an interview with TheCable and THISDAY/ARISE in Lagos on Tuesday, Buratai averred that President Muhammadu Buhari should not be pushed into sacking his service chiefs “because he knows where the problems are”.

He said; “I am tempted not to comment on this particular issue because I am directly involved. However, I want to believe that whatever happens, the commander-in-chief is the right arbiter, and he knows where it pinches, he knows where the problems are. I think the decision should be left to him. He should not be pushed or prompted in this regard.

“We are into a very serious issue which should not be taken lightly. This is why when you say a particular crop of leaders in the military should be removed for whatever reason, it sounds very odd because we are not addressing the issues. I am not saying this because I am the chief of army staff and I do not want to leave. 

No, that is not the issue. It is beyond that because this is a national issue, an issue of national pride and national interest. Those who would cry loudly against the service chiefs are within, and they are the ones who should be more vocal in the things that are not going right.”

The Army Chief also dispelled claims of Boko Haram starting off in 2009. He stated that it’s been difficult to wipe out Boko Haram because the “brainwashing and indoctrination” that created the group started off over 30 years.