Nigerian Army partners Bangladesh counterpart in the fight against insurgency

The Nigerian Army has again emphasized on its commitment to explore all professional options available to completely eradicate insurgency in the country.

This was made known by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai during his welcome remark while receiving the Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff, General Abu Belal Muhammed Shafiul Huq, who is in the country on a five day working visit.
At the event which held at the Nigerian Army Flag Staff House, Marina, Lagos over the weekend, Lt. Gen. Buratai disclosed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to partner with its Bangladesh counterpart in counter-insurgency, as well as strengthen the existing diplomatic ties between both countries.

Speaking on the basis for the visits, Lt. Gen Buratai said, “The visit is a further confirmation of our desire to develop professionally our armies and indeed the diplomatic relations that has been for a long time and to make it much stronger. The Nigerian Army just like the Bangladesh Army has undergone a lot of transformation and it has faced a lot of challenges. The Bangladesh Army as we all know has fought many bitter wars of liberation. I’m glad today it has come out as one of the best armies in the world.

“Bangladesh contribution to world peace through participation in Peace Keeping Operation has been adjudged as one of the best. The Nigerian Army and the Bangladesh Army are said to be one of the top contributors to UN Peace Keeping Operation. The Bangladesh Army has had a great experience in counter- insurgency so we would like their experience to be brought to bear.

“In this visit, we are going to strengthen our relationship because we have a lot in common. The synergy is what we require and I’m sure that would help us in terms of intelligence gathering, logistics, tactics, strategy and collaborative effort. ”

He also stressed the importance of intelligence in winning the war against insurgency, he said. “Counter-insurgency is a thing that should be of utmost importance to the Armed Forces across the world and to the army in particular. This is because the army bares the burns in the fight against terrorism in a very difficult terrain and this can be a very difficult experience, but can be countered effectively through the use of intelligence.

“Counter insurgency to a great extent is an intelligence based operation. This we are employing all the necessary intelligence sources, intelligence partners and other agencies that are operating in this country to ensure we get the right intelligence to address this Boko-Haram issue and this has made it possible for us to achieve success thus far,”

According to Lt. Gen. Buratai, the Nigerian Army has achieved tremendous progresses since his appointment as chief of Army Staff, especially in the fight against the Boko- Haram insurgency. This he attributed to the knowledge acquired from the Bangladesh experience in counter-insurgency.

In the quest for advancement and professionalism, Lt. Gen. Buratai said, “We have undertaken a number of visits to the School of Infantry and Tactics in Bangladesh and the National Dfence College to see how we can improve on our training and efficiency. Equally, our effort to establish the Army War College here in Nigeria is in progress as some officers were sent on a trip to the War College in Bangladesh and they are putting together their findings which will guide us in the establishment of the College here in Nigeria.

“We are also working assiduously to see how we can better the existing facilities in our country. We are also taking a clue from your experience where we are in the process of establishing the Nigerian Army University which will take the shape of the Bangladesh University.

“We want to further collaborate with you in that regards, once it is established. We have already the Nigerian Army institute of technology and environmental studies just like your own institute of science and technology. Courses are been run in that institution. We have a number of institutions in Bangladesh which the Nigerian Army and indeed Nigerians can benefit from”

On his part, the Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff, General Muhammed Huq who came in the company of his wife Mrs. Shoma Huq, and the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Major General Kazi Sharif, he counted it great honour and privilege visiting the country. He noted that being a very professional army, officers from the Bangladesh Army had always kept Nigerian officers in very high esteem whenever they met especially in UN Peace Keeping Operations.

He said, “Nigerian Armed Forces Officers have been attending different courses at our Staff College and also at the National Defence Course in Bangladesh. Whenever they share their great experience with Bangladesh Armed Forces Officers, we have benefited from their experiences.

“We have fought very long insurgency was and we have one of the success story so we can share our idea in the army. Insurgence cannot be fought by the military alone, it is a total approach. It is political, ideological, economical and also military. So all together we can fight insurgency, so the military is one component in fighting insurgency”

On the main purpose of his visit, Gen. Muhammed said, his visit is to strengthen the good relationship that has existed between the Nigerian Army and Bangladesh Army.

Explaining further, he said. “The visit is also to learn from the Nigerian Army the way they are organized the way they are fighting terrorism and insurgency, share experiences by interacting with the chief and also other senior officers in the army.

“So I understand you are now also involved in fighting terrorism and insurgency, so we can share experiences which will benefit both armies. Bangladesh is also open to provide any support that we can to Nigerian Army. Both armies can benefit from sharing experience we have and our training institutions and schools of instructions are open.

“we also have some good educational institutions such as the Bangladesh university, Military Institute of Science and Technology and Armed Forces Medical College, we will also be very happy to provide our support to the Nigerian Army if the chief so desires to send his officers to those institutions.” He maintained.

Reply Reply to All Forward More