The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, says only the Federal Government has the jurisdiction to declare the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, wanted.

Lieutenant General Buratai stated this on Monday after the opening of the Third Quarter Nigerian Army Conference in Abuja.

“The Federal Government will take the final decision on that,” he told reporters after the event where he appraised the performance of the Nigerian Army in peace operations.

“There are guidelines provided in the Anti-Terrorism Act; So, I’m sure the relevant government agencies and authorities will take steps whether to arrest or to take any other action (against Kanu).

Buratai, who noted that the Army was not under any form of threat to leave the South East, said: “We will receive the appropriate directive from the authorities.”

He further announced plans by the Nigerian Army to launch special exercises across the country in order to maintain peace and security.

Earlier, the Army chief addressed officers at the meeting on how well they have done in maintaining security across Nigeria, as well as new ways to tackle insecurity.

According to him, one mechanism to be deployed is closer collaboration with other security agencies through the training of 3,000 personnel from the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

“To complement the efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Bama Initiative is being launched by the Federal Government.

“The initiative is for the Nigerian Army to train about 3,000 personnel initially of the police and Civil Defence Corps and will be deployed for the security of Bama Local Government and its environs,” Buratai said.

•Credit (except headline): Channels TV.

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