The army chief on Tuesday had said: “It is unfortunate, but the truth is that almost every setback the Nigerian Army has had in our operations in recent times can be traced to the insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks or simply insufficient commitment to a common national/military course by those at the frontlines.
Just a couple of days after blaming Nigerian troops in the frontline of the Boko Haram war, the country’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the soldiers are committed and courageous.
The army chief on Tuesday had said: “It is unfortunate, but the truth is that almost every setback the Nigerian Army has had in our operations in recent times can be traced to the insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks or simply insufficient commitment to a common national/military course by those at the frontlines.
“Many of those on whom the responsibility for physical actions against the adversary squarely falls are yet to fully take ownership of our common national or service cause.”
But a few days after, specifically on Friday, Buratai commended Nigerians soldiers.
He gave the commendation during the graduation of 183 intermediate military officers, held at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State.
“I would like to commend your courage and commitment to the onerous and noble cause of ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria and Nigerians. I also want to use this opportunity to honour those who have paid the supreme price while in active service of our motherland.
“We owe it to them to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain. We also owe it to ourselves to become better at our craft, in terms of the quality of our equipment, personnel, and training. To this end, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is making concerted efforts to acquire new platforms and equipment,” he stated.
To the 183 intermediate officers of Junior Course 87, Buratai urged them to remain professional, disciplined and hard-working in the discharge of their constitutional duties.