The new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai, has assumed office after his predecessor, Lieutenant-General Kenneth Minimah had successfully handed over to him and encouraged him to sustain the ongoing fight against insurgents in the Northeast.

The official handing over ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Minimah, his 18 months as the Chief of Army Staff was very challenging as the nation’s Army battled to reclaim her almost lost glory as a result of the ongoing fight against insurgency in the north- east.

The new chief of Army staff said he would unfold his operational plans for tackling insurgency in the days ahead.

He also met with President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting was for the new Army Chief to further understand President Buhari’s expectations from him.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, he said that he would be travelling to Damaturu, Yobe State, to celebrate Sallah with troops fighting the Boko Haram sect.

“I am just a few hours on the seat. We will be talking later. But I will be going to Damaturu tomorrow to visit the troops. I want to go and celebrate Sallah with them,” the Army chief said.

Earlier on Monday July 13, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the Heads of Army, Navy and Air Force as well as the National Security Adviser (NSA).

The President later approved the appointments of the following:

1. Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin – Chief of Defence Staff

2. Major-General T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff

3. Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff

4. Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff

5. Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan – Chief of Defence Intelligence

6. Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser

The new Service Chiefs are all expected to assume office on Thursday (today) according to sources close to the military hierarchy in Abuja.

The Boko Haram had seemed to be losing its grip on the Northeast region, when the Nigerian military launched a seemingly successful operation to reclaim all territories lost to the insurgents.

However, with about 500 lives lost in recent suicide bombings in Yobe, Kaduna, Plateau and Kano states, there had been renewed pressure on the military for a more effective approach to the war on terror. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Major-General Tukur Buratai and Gen Minimah at the handover ceremony . . . yesterday in Abuja.

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