We’re winning the war against Boko Haram, says Buhari

Despite the Tuesday and Wednesday attacks that claimed 148 lives in Borno villages, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, said Nigeria is progressively winning the war against Boko Haram under the auspices of multinational force involving neighbouring countriesThe President said the multinational force is progressively winning the fight against Boko Haram.

President Buhari, who stated this in his address as the Special Guest of Honour at the graduation of 174 military officers of Senior Course 37 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Nigeria, pointed out the importance of harnessing the strengths of multiple security actors as demonstrated in the fight against terrorism.

Represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari expressed confidence in the quality of training received by officers in the institution which, according to him, has adequately prepared the military to confront current threats to national and global security.

He however, cautioned the officers to be mindful of the “distracting and diversionary” nature of today’s highly sensitive media environment.

“Some of you will be deployed in crisis-prone areas for either internal security or peace support operations outside your country. Given that we live in a common global environment, you must be conscious of your actions,” he warned the graduates.

On the global scene, Buhari said Nigeria remains firmly committed to the maintenance of international peace and security, adding that the country will continue to collaborate with other governments to promote peace, stability and development on the African continent and around the world.

He therefore charged the military to live up to expectations at all times and to uphold the nation’s enduring legacy in global peacekeeping operations.

“As members of the armed forces, you have a principal role to play in protecting the lives and property of our citiz“While maintaining internal peace and security remains primarily the responsibility of the civil police, the scale of the current security challenges facing our nation requires the military to play a more decisive role in support of civil power.

“Always remember that ethnicity and religious intolerance are the greatest threats to our collective security as a people and as a nation. I urge you all to guard against these negative sentiments in the discharge of your noble duties,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, Commandant of the College, AVM John Chris Ifemeje, said the course assembled on 30th June, 2014 and is made up of 174 students comprising 70 Nigerian Army officers, 43 Nigerian Navy officers, 31 Nigerian Air Force officers and 9 civilians from the Defence Intelligence Agency, DSS, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Prison Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, NYSC and FRSC.

He noted that among the graduating students were also 21 international military officers comprising five from Mali, four from Ghana, and two each from Benin Republic, Burkina Faýso, Sierra Leone and Togo, and one each from Cameroun, Chad, the Gambia and Senegal.

“It has been 49 weeks of intense operational military training and academic activities and the course is designed to equip the officers with the appropriate skills to function as middle level commanders and Grade 1 Staff Officers,” he said.

He advised the graduating students ýto strive to improve themselves and always keep abreast developments, not only in their immediate environment but also in the ever dynamic global environment.