As the Service Chiefs were sworn in and decorated on Wednesday, Bahari had the follow lines for them:
“You need to brace up and continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well coordinated joint effort which will bring a desired end to these insurgencies within three months.”
The service chiefs who were appointed by the President on 13 July and whose appointments were confirmed on 4 August were- General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin , Chief of Defence Staff; Lt-General T.Y. Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar , Chief of Air Staff.
It will be recalled that the President was elected partly to bring and end to the Boko Haram insurgency which, according to some estimates has claimed over 50,000 lives and rendered social economic activities, particularly in North East Nigeria prostrate also gave his new military commanders order to tackle incidents of armed banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality within the same period.
“You are all aware of the various security challenges facing our nation. These challenges include the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, armed banditry, kidnapping and militancy of various forms, to mention a few.
“The increasing incidence of attacks and destruction perpetrated by these insurgents have led to the deployment of various instruments of national power in a bid to contain their activities and restoring law and order in every part of the country.
“Rightly, the armed forces have been in the vanguard of the fight against terrorism.
“While commending the efforts of the armed forces so far, you need to brace up and continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well-coordinated joint effort which will bring a desired end to these insurgencies within three months,” said the President.
He said the service chiefs should give attention to the welfare of their men and asked them to ensure that their men abide with all new rules and relations of international standards while carrying out their assigned tasks.
“In particular you must protect innocent civilians and respect the rights of combatant. This no doubt will earn the support of local communities and the respect of our allies and support of international community,” said Buhari.
”While urging the military chiefs to “get back to work and make Nigerians proud,” the President said he had no doubt on their capacity to deliver charging them to acquaint themselves and justify the honour done to them.
[…] He emphasized that he was appointed NSA alongside new service chiefs by President Muhammdu Buhari, with a special mandate to end the Boko Haram insurgency. […]
[…] It would be recalled that the president has given the military three months to wipe out the insurgen…. The war looked like it was already won for a while, until the recent series of bombings in the city of Maiduguri, which has led many to cast doubt on the chances of the military ending Boko Haram terror by December. […]