The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, has accused some politicians whom he described as “embittered” of being behind the rising activities of bandits in the country in their attempt to destabilise the country.
According to him, the military had strong evidence against the politicians sponsoring banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminal acts.
He, warned the politicians however, to abide by the outcomes of the elections, exercise restraints and allow peace to reign.
Buratai made the disclosure while hosting members of the 10-man Committee on Army of the House of Representatives, who were in Maiduguri on a two-day oversight function.
Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Rimammade Kwewum, who led other members on the visit, said they were in Maiduguri at the Operation Lafiya Dole headquarters as part of their legislative oversight function to assess activities of the Nigerian Army and receive briefings on the activities of the command.
Addressing to them, the COAS said, “There are myriads of security challenges we are facing right now in the North-West, North-Central and other parts of the country. I want to believe, and rightly so, that with the fallout of the just-concluded general elections, there are politicians who saw their defeat as a means of revenge, sponsoring these criminal activities and even banditry and clashes between the farmers and herders.
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“We use this opportunity to call on members of the House of Representatives to prevail on some of these politicians, to really look at national interest first before any political or sectional interest. We have some strong evidence but we are still being conscious so that we don’t get it wrong but the best is to advise these politicians.”
The COAS pleaded with politicians to refrain from activities that inflict pains on civilians, warning that criminals would be dealt with according to the law of the land.
He assured the lawmakers and Nigerians that the Army was capable of fighting criminals including Boko Haram terrorists, kidnappers and bandits across the country saying that the Army would not relent until the nation is rid of such criminal elements.
Buratai insisted that the Nigerian Army had degraded the manpower and weapons of the insurgents while efforts were being made to deal with the terrorists at their hideouts and those on the run.
He also commended the committee members and the National Assembly for their support and encouragement to the Nigerian Army operations across the country.
