Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, has commissioned the Tukur Buratai
institute for war and peace to overcome challenges of terrorism.
The over a decade long Boko Haram insurgency has claimed 36,000 lives
with destruction of $9 billion (N3.42 trillion) worth of property in
Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
While appreciating Army’s foresight for institute Thursday in Buratai
town, he disclosed that; “you’re all aware of the debilitating effects
of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state and neighbouring countries of
Niger, Chand and Cameroon’
“Our dear state is the worst affected with many citizens still in
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
“I’m not unaware of where we were before the inception of the Buratai
administration and his leadership and successes recorded by the
military the war against terror.”
Continued; “With the level of destruction of infrastructures, and
displacement of people from their communities, we have the task of
rehabilitating them.
“The task before us now, is to return the people to communities and
restart their means of livielihoods.”
He noted that this was why state government is devoting its limited
resources to empower and encourage the people return to communities.
Zulum noted that the army is a reliable partner in this endeavor.
According to him, the state government shall work with the institute
to design a template and programmes for peace building, reconstruction
and development of communities.
While appreciating scarifies of gallant troops; he said: “We shall
continue to support the Armed Forces when we occasionally criticized.
We do so with a view to improving on our successes; and not out of
lack of appreciation.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, lamented that one of
the greatest challenges facing the world today is terrorism and huge
toll it’s taking on human lives.
He declared that Nigeria has its fair share of terrorism in the form
of Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast part of country.
He said with support of government and other security agencies, the
military has been working substantially to destroy these terrorists
and return peace to affected areas.
He believes that this will enable the people go back to their normal
life productive activities in communities.
“This is the surest way put in a nail on the coffins of insurgency,” he said.
While commending troops’ for their sacrifices defend country, he said
the Nigerian Army will continue to treat their welfare and families
with top most priority.
He noted that this could not have been achieved; without the support
of Nigerian leaders and people of northeast.
According to him, without their support and understanding, the
successes achieved would not have been possible.
“Continue to support our security agencies with timely intelligence as
the war on terror is a collective responsibility of all,” he said.
He said the Institute is part of Nigerian Army with the aim of
understanding all forms of warfare, particularly new forms of
asymmetric conflict, including terrorism and insurgency.
On institute’s aim, he said: “The Tukur Buratai Institute aims at
training and capacity building for military personnel, as well as
civilians in counter-terrorism and insurgency, humanitarian responses,
peace building and construction.
He said the institute has six centres, including research,
documentation, counter-terrorism and insurgency, cyber security,
strategic communication and centre for museum and archives.
“This will also influence policy and state at community levels,”
adding that the institute plans to collaborate with other institutions
of learning and research.
Vice Chancellor of Nigerain Army University, Biu, Prof. Kyari Mohammed
said the conversion of the museum to an Institute of War and Peace
(IWAP), is part of army’s efforts of defeating the Boko Haram
insurgency not only by kinetic force.
He said that in 2014, Buratai town was severally attacked by insurgents.
He said the institute will intellectually provide education, which the
insurgents detests in their campaigns of war.
“Academicians, intend to look for and proffer solutions to end the
ongoing war with Boko Haram and abet future occurrences,” he said.
The institute’s building was donated by Buratai in 2015 as a museum;
where relics of war and insurgency were displayed.
In 2019, the Nigerian Army decided to upgrade the museum to become a
centre for counter-terrorism and insurgency.
He said this year; the University council in its wisdom thought it
necessary to upgrade the centre to an institute.
“It will deal with post conflict peace building and reconstruction,
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.
“The centre will also study other forms of conflict around the country
and beyond.
“We aspire to be the centre of excellence in post conflict peace
building in proffering solutions to violent conflict.”
He said IWAP is being devoted to the study of all aspects of war and peace.
