According to a statement on Sunday, Buratai, who is the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, said this during his visit to the Olubadan.

Buratai was present when Oba Balogun was presented with the Staff of Office by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Buratai described Oba Balogun as a person “whose name and personality preceded his enthronement as the Olubadan owing to his philanthropic gestures, detribalised posture, politics and activism.

“The enthronement of Dr Balogun as the new Olubadan is a well-deserved one for he has always been a man of honour with good poise and carriage that befits royalty. It is a divine call for you, Kabiyesi and you will always be divinely guided as you direct the affairs of Ibadan people, among whom I’m one as one of your Chief.

“I will remain a loyal Chief to the monarch and Ibadanland by answering duties as the Aare Akinrogun of the ancient metropolis anytime the need arises.”

The monarch, while speaking through his brother, Senator Kola Balogun, said he would hold periodic meetings with all Ibadan chieftaincy titleholders from across the country.

He said the periodic meetings could either be once or twice a year to wine and dine together and ensure that the relationship between Ibadan and her chiefs is kept alive and active.

Olubadan, who described Buratai who was the Chief of Army Staff when he became the Aare Akinrogun of Ibadanland as a dedicated and loyal Army General, said his appointment as an Ibadan Chief was not a mistake.

The security and service chiefs are to explain the procurement and deployment of arms and ammunition in their respective agencies.

It was reliably learnt on Saturday that the House Committee on Defence has met with the Ministry of Defence on the $1bn special security fund released by the Federal Government in 2017, part of which was used to pay for 12 Super Tucano fighter jets in the United States.

Reactions had greeted the comments made by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), who said during an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation on March 12 that $1bn funds meant to purchase arms to tackle insurgency during the ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing.

However, in a statement by his office later in the day, the NSA recanted, saying he was quoted out of context. It added, “We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the former service chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview. During the interview, the National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued commitment to providing all necessary support to the armed forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Olaide Akinremi, at its first investigative hearing in Abuja, penultimate Friday, where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was represented by the Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Charles Ofoche had described the matter as sensitive.

Akinremi told correspondents on Friday that following the resolution of the House to look into arms purchase in the last 10 years, incumbent heads of military and paramilitary agencies are to appear before the lawmakers on Monday.

Akinremi said, “We have invited them. This time around, it is not only the Chief of the Army Staff. We invited the three components of the military – Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff. They are all coming on Monday. There are others like the Comptroller-General of (Nigerian) Immigration (Service); Commandant-General, (Nigeria Security and) Civil Defence (Corps); Comptroller-General, Nigerian Correctional Service; Comptroller-General, (Nigeria) Customs (Service); they are also coming.” “We are going to investigate the matter. As a matter of fact, we are also planning to summon the ex-service chiefs”

The committee had the same day vowed to investigate the “missing” arms and ammunition for which the former service chiefs were allocated funds to acquire.

This came over a month after the ex-Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.), and the service chiefs resigned their positions and were replaced by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

The ex-service chiefs are the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas (retd.); and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).

The army boss, however said those who are not ready to move to Sambisa and other parts of the country are free to leave.

InsideOjudu reports that Sambisa forest, which is suituated in Borno State is an hideout for the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Buratai also charged the recruits to be ready to defend the country against external aggression and other security threats.

The army boss, who spoke during the final screening for 80 regular recruits held at the notorious Falgore forest in Tudun Wads Local Government Area of Kano State; “You must make up your mind that you are ready to serve your country as a soldier and you should be ready.

“All of you will go to Sambisa at the end of your depot training. If you are not ready to move to Sambisa and other parts of the country, and of course, our border areas to defend our country from any act of aggression, then you have not started.

“It is not yet late, if you have any doubt, then you can stand up and go. There is no room for laziness and indiscipline in the Army and no room for malingering.”

The infected Generals reportedly had contact with the deceased during the Chief of Army Staff’s annual conference 2020, in Abuja which was cancelled after the death of Irefin. 

The conference was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; and GOCs from nearly all the army divisions nationwide. They were all directed to go isolation thereafter, leading to the COAS not being able to attend the wedding of his son in Abuja on Friday, December 11. 

Some of the infected GOCs and principal officers were being treated at the COVID-19 isolation centre, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja. Some of the patients were also being quarantined at other isolation centres in the Federal Capital Territory.

While maintaining that there was no corpse during the protest at Lekki toll gate, Buratai stressed that those claiming protesters were killed were seeing double.

The Army chief made this known at the decoration of 39 newly promoted Major Generals on Friday in Abuja.

“I am glad that we held the Spiritual Warfare Seminar on Wednesday and most of the decorated Generals today are graduates of the Spiritual Warfare Seminar.

“I must say that the Spiritual Warfare Seminar we had last time, helped us during the last #EndSARS protest to the extent that there was no single corpse, but some persons were seeing double at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State,” Buratai said.

Several protesters demonstrating against bad governance were reported killed by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate.

Popular Nigerian Disc Jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, also known as DJ Switch, had alleged that soldiers shot and killed some of the people protesting at Lekki toll gate.

However, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army had maintained that soldiers drafted to the scene didn’t kill any protester.

The Army, however, admitted that soldiers were at the venue of the protest but did not kill anybody.

Buratai noted this, while stating that Nigerians generally misunderstand what insurgency and terrorism mean, hence the chances that terrorism will be over anytime soon is not certain.

Buratai made the remark on his verified Facebook handle few days after Boko Haram massacred rice farmers in Borno State.

Recall that over 40 rice farmers in Zabarmari, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State were beheaded on Saturday, November 28.

“There is general misunderstanding of what insurgency and terrorism entail. There is likelihood of terrorism persisting in Nigeria for another 20 years.

“Citizens responsibility is equally important and imperative. All must cooperate to contain the lingering insecurity. Let there be collective action and responsibility,” Army boss said.

Buratai last week relocated fully to the North East region to oversee and direct the overall operations in the theatre and other Nigerian Army operations across the country.

Speaking to troops at Ngamdu Special Super Camp on Monday April 13, during the Easter celebration, the Army Chief regretted that the insurgency has lasted for too long but gave assurances that in no time the Boko Haram elements will be defeated.

He said “You may wonder that this counter-insurgency operation has lingered for too long, we all know globally that counter terrorism is very complex. There are some countries that have fought counter terrorism for close to 50years. But we’re not going to leave it, we will not leave this camp. We are here, we will not leave this camp until we substantially degrade these criminals. By God’s willing, we shall be there with you no going back once we commence. We will be with you in the valleys, on the hill, in the jungle, in the river and so on. As I speak now, we have some element that are providing us necessary intelligence and once we start, no going back. We are here and we make sure that we get ourselves properly motivated, properly equipped and I assure you will have the best of time. Some of you have been here before like two three times but I tell you, we are going to have the best of time. We want the best out of you. We need your courage and determination. I want you to have at the back of your minds that Mr. President solidly behind you. We have already started getting the consignment of what we require for us to handle these insurgency and terrorism. It a matter of time and a very short time”.