Buratai reacts to soldiers killings in Rivers

NAN reports that Buratai, who addressed troops at the 34 Artillery Brigade headquarters, Obinze, Owerri, Imo state capital on March 18, said military had commenced investigation into the sad incident. The chief of army staff, who said the incident was unfortunate, disclosed that the military had brought the situation in the area under control. “The situation in the Niger Delta is presently

being addressed. The activities of pirates, criminals and bandits will be checked; our troops are fully on ground and they have arrested the situation. The unfortunate incident of Thursday in Rivers state is something that we are currently investigating. We will deal with the situation as investigation unfolds in the area,” Buratai said. The chief of army staff celebrated the efforts of its personnel for containing criminality in Imo state and restoring peace. Buratai, who assured the soldiers of federal government’s commitment toimprove the condition of facilities in the barracks, added that the troops andtheir families welfare were paramount. He said President Muhammadu Buhari-ledgovernment would give priority to the welfare of military personnel. He alsoinspected facilities at the barracks in Obinze.Sahara Reporters informed that a major of the Nigerian army and three othersoldiers were shot dead on March 17, in Abonnema in Akuku-Toru local governmentarea of Rivers state, after they ran into an ambush set up by suspected seapirates. The Nigerian army is combating a lot of crime across the country. The army is saddled with the responsibility of protecting the country’s waterways in a bid to curb the illicit activities of sea pirates and militants in the Niger Delta region. The military is also faced with the Boko Haram menace in the Northern part of the nation. Recently report emerged that Boko Haram had killed at least 17,000 people and left more than 2.6 million others homeless since their six-year campaign started.