The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports in two online media about the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said in a statement that there was no truth whatsoever in a naij.com report that Gen. Buratai argued with President Muhammadu Buhari on the feasibility of the December deadline to defeat Boko Haram. “He (President Buhari) gave the directive and he remains resolute as can be attested by his continuous support. It is obvious that those behind the story are out to make mischief and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in our country,” Col. Usman said.

“We are determined to meet up with the set deadline based on the fact that Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been receiving tremendous support from the Federal Government,” he added.

The Army Spokesman in another statement condemned a report in the Daily Post alleging that “the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has dismissed insinuations that two local governments in Borno state are under the control of Islamist group, Boko Haram”, contrary to an alleged assertion by “Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who told the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, over the weekend, that Boko Haram were in control of Abadam and Mobbar local governments in the state when he played host to Lawal, who led a six-man delegation of the Federal Government sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to commiserate with Borno and Adamawa states following the recent suicide attacks targeted at Mosques in the two states.” The report further alleged that General Buratai disputed the claims by the Governor.

According to Col. Usman, “It is to be noted that, the story apart from being mischievous, it was a misrepresentation of facts as the Chief of Army Staff was not responding to anybody’s comments as he made them in Jos, Plateau State, almost at the same time when the Governor made his. General Buratai’s comments were based on our troops’ deployment across the state and not overall presence of Boko Haram in the state. The Governor being the State’s Chief Security Officer of his State was right and knows better especially where the Local Government administrations are not functioning.

“One really wonders why some faceless people were making frantic efforts to drag the name of the Chief of Army into mud through needless and unnecessary distractions and controversies. It is equally worrying why such online medium thrive in creating controversies where there is none and whose interest were they serving.

“All those mischievous insinuations and covert efforts aimed at distracting the COAS and indeed the Nigerian Army would not succeed. The Nigerian Army remains focussed and resolute in its determined effort in conjunction with other sister Services and Security Agencies in defeating Boko Haram terrorists.”

•Photo shows Col. Usman.

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