The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai has disclosed the reason why the Nigerian Army is finding it difficult to tackle and wipe out the Islamist-Jihadist sect, Boko Haram from parts of the North East.
The COAS, while speaking during a lecture to participants of Executive Course 38 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in Kuru, Plateau on Tuesday said the Nigerian Army’s failure is due to the nature of the region.
Buratai said: “They still exist in the region, especially Borno, as the area is diverse and some cannot be easily accessed.
“The land is so vast, the North East is very, very vast; you never appreciate it until you fly over that area or even drive around.
“Those remote areas are so diverse and thick with very difficult terrain.
“Now that it is the rainy season, it is very difficult to move heavy equipment, heavy tracking vehicles into some of those areas. The best time is the dry season,’’ he said.
He further commended the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to move the military control and command centre from Abuja to Maiduguri. He stated that the move was a much needed and profound one which has aided in strategic planning and operations.