The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai on Wednesday two reports of Committees of Investigations set up to unravel the true situations of certain allegations concerning Army Operations in different parts of the country.
One of the reports involved the detailed committee report on the proliferation of arms within the Nigerian Army establishments.
The other report involved the report of the investigative panel set up to probe allegations that personnel of the Nigerian Army in ‘Operation Ayem Akpatuma’, were colluding with herdsmen to kill Taraba State citizens and destroy property which forced former Army Chief, General TY Danjuma to call on the people to embark on self defence.
Presenting their findings on arms proliferation, the Chairman of the Committee which was inaugurated on the 16th of March 2018; said the harmonized report verified over 250 different arms inventories.
He thanked the Chief of Army staff for the trust and opportunity to serve in the committee and hoped that the findings will be fully utilized.
He further applauded the leadership style of Gen. Buratai which he said has “raised the standards of the Army despite the enormous contemporary challenges”.
In a similar development, the committee set up to verify allegations against the Nigerian Army in the course of operation in Taraba state also submitted the reports of its findings.
Speaking during the presentation, the Chairman of the Committee, Maj. Gen. Joseph N Nimyel (rtd) said the report is “painstakingly thorough, fair and extensive” after numerous investigations and consultations with stakeholders in Taraba state.
Read Also:
- NDLEA Intercepts N9Billion worth Opioids in Rivers; Arrests Canadian Lady al Lagos Airport with 35.20kg of Loud
- Security Challenges: Airforce Chief Conducts Operational Tour of Infrastructure/Facilities at NAF Units in Enugu & Port Harcourt
- Badaru Casts vote in Jigawa LG Elections, Commends Peaceful Process
He said the committee members arrived Jalingo, the Taraba State capital on the 11th of April 2018 and went to all the senatorial zones to interact with stakeholders where its investigations were conducted with stakeholders.
He said the report, contained in six copies would inspire the leadership of the Army towards ensuring a professionally responsive Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
Responding, the COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai maintained that the harmonized reports of the various committees would help the Nigerian Army to identify the loopholes and rectify the present challenges.
Gen. Buratai hinted that the recommendation will be fully implemented and any Commanding Officer indicted by the report will be decisively sanctioned.
He thanked the Chairman, Sub-Chairman and Committee members for accepting to serve despite being on retirement.
He reiterated the resolve of the Nigerian Army to protect arms and ammunition by limiting it not to be assessed by wrong hands.
The Army Chief said the findings submitted by the committee will be made available to members of the public to ascertain the truth.
For the Investigative panel on alleged soldiers collusion in particular, Buratai said, members of the panel which included human rights and civil society representatives were chosen as a result of their personal integrity, track record and standing in the society.
He pledged that the report will be thoroughly studied, findings properly assimilated and recommendations implemented adding that “We will take every aspect seriously. We will make the report available to the appropriate authority and the media”.
END
