By Bashir Adefaka

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has given hope that, whatever security challenges facing Nigeria currently would soon be over, saying they are not insurmountable. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 16th annual conflict management seminar themed, “Harnessing the diverse expertise of government and non-governmental organisations in rebuilding the socio-economic life of post conflict communities: North Eastern Nigeria in perspective,”

Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai

held at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics, Lagos, General Buratai represented by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of Nigerian Army, Major General Henry Edet, ventilated his belief that the crème of officers present at the seminar would be able to brainstorm on how best to provide seamless logistics support for OP LAFIYA DOLE.

The Army chief, who regretted that Boko Haram since it started its campaign of terror had destroyed hundreds of lives and properties worth millions of naira including schools, worship centres and villages, hinted participants at the seminar that robust steps had been taken to checkmate the activities of terrorist groups and other criminal elements in the country. Specifically, he said, there is significant improvement on inter-agency co-operation, particularly in terms of intelligence gathering and sharing.

His words: “Similarly, our force structure is now more robust in terms of manpower and logistics support to effectively counter growing insecurity, not only in the North East but also other parts of the country.

“I want to seize this opportunity to once again advise mischief makers and criminals to shun violence and all forms of criminality as offenders will surely be made to face the full wrath of the law. No reason can justify needless and wanton bloodshed which our country has witnessed in recent times.”