The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Tukur Buratai, said the Army has
engaged in spiritual warfare to counter Boko Haram propaganda.
Buratai, represented by Timothy Olowomeye, a Brigadier General, the
Director Civil Military Affairs, stated this at the 2019 Chaplains
annual Training Conference and Retreat on Tuesday in Sokoto.
“We were involved in a joint seminar on Spiritual Warfare as an
effective means against insurgency and other forms of restiveness.
“Boko Haram and the likes cannot be defeated by kinetic military warfare alone.
“Finding appropriate counter-narratives against these violent
extremist sects will immensely be a big push towards eradicating their
negative activities in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Buratai, a lieutenant general, said Nigeria and the world at large
was grappling with the harsh reality of restiveness mostly shrouded in
religious, economic and political undertones.
“These tendencies have caused disorder and wanton destruction of lives
and property of many innocent citizens who have continued to look unto
the government for solace.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to offer succour and
renewing the hope of the country’s citizens through the relentless
efforts of our Armed Forces and other security agencies.
“We, therefore, must call to mind always that the noble task of
protecting the territorial integrity of the nation while also being
proactively involved in aid of our civil authority is our prime
responsibility,” Buratai said.
He said the Army had continued to engage with the religious
directorate on possible proactive measures to help in winning this
fight against the various forms of restiveness in the country.
The COAS described the theme, “The Non-Kinetic Strength in the face of
Armed Banditry and other Security Challenges: The Role of the Military
Chaplains”, as very relevant in this battle.
He further noted that the choice of the Northwest for the event meant
they were in tandem with the efforts of the government in quelling the
teeming security challenges of banditry in the region.
He called for more collaboration between the Directorates of Civil
Military Affairs (DCMA) and the three Religious Directorates in the
efforts to contain the security challenges.
Speaking also, the Coordinator, Brig.-Gen. Charles Chidebere, said the
event was in furtherance of efforts to win the war not by blazing guns
but through winning the hearts of all with profound messages of peace.
Chidebere appealed to religious leaders, tribes, communities and
people at large to uphold the true message of religion which included
peace, tolerance and unity in words and actions.
“We must refute in strongest terms possible all forms of extreme
religious fanaticism and its attendant security threat to the nation,”
he said.
