I learnt valuable lessons from Bangladesh Military’s Defeat of Insurgency/Terrorism – Buratai; 223 NA officers trained in Bangladesh institutions.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said that he learnt valuable lessons from Bangladesh in the art of counter insurgency and counter terrorism warfare noting that such experience has contributed to the massive decapitation of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist in the North East by the Nigerian Army.

Buratai made the disclosure just as he noted that 223 officers of the Nigerian Army have so far received trainings in various military institutions in Bangladesh attributing it to the conducive bilateral relationship existing between both countries.

Speaking when the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Mr. Mohammad Shammeen Ashan paid him a courtesy visit at Army headquarters, the COAS who is an alumni of the National Defence University NDU, Bangladesh, noted that his sojourn in Nepal during the period exposed him to how efforts of the Bangladesh Defence forces combined to defeat the insurgents and criminals of the Chittagong Hills.

“So you can see that my stay in Bangladesh has contributed to how we have dealt with the insurgents and terrorists in the North East of our country. Though we are still dealing with them and they are being pushed away from the North East.

Disclosing that the Nigerian Army will continue to explore available opportunity for further training of its officers and soldiers in the areas of tactics, staff duties and intelligence among others, Lt. General Buratai urged the Bangladesh government to also take advantages of Nigerian Army military training institutions.

He said, “Our military institutions are also open for training to your officers and soldiers. We have the Infantry School, the Artillery School, the Intelligence School, the Amoured school and the Cyber Warfare School among others and they are all of international standards.

He also urged the High Commissioner to take advantage of and partner with the Nigerian Army University in Biu, in Borno state.

Earlier, High Commissioner Ashan told the Army Chief and Principal Officers that he was at Army headquarters to further strengthen the bilateral relations between both countries particularly to seek for increased military cooperation.

Noting that Bangladesh and Nigeria are strong military contributors to United Nations Peacekeeping operations, the High Commissioner said this is because both countries seek for and work for peace and stability in the international community.

“I will do my best to see that both countries sustain world peace” he said.

Present at the occasion were the Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun, CTOP, Maj General Enobong Udoh, Chief of Administration, Maj General Yusuf, Chief of Military Intelligence, Maj General Adebayo, Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Maj Gen Fidelis Azinta, Special Adviser Nigerian Army University, Maj General Okonkwo and Commandant, Nigerian Army War College, Maj Gen C Ofoche

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