COAS says Army remains committed to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity

The Nigerian Army, on Friday, said it remained committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, reiterated the commitment after Juma’at prayer as part of the activities to mark the 153rd Nigerian Army Day celebration in Abuja.

Buratai also said he was delighted by the ratings of the Nigerian Army as one of the best in the world.

``For us to succeed, we must continue to seek the intervention of God so that our country will continue to be united and give us the strength to continue to do our constitutional responsibility effectively.

`` This is very important because of the security challenge the country is facing, especially the activities of the insurgents’’, Buratai said.

The COAS called on religious leaders as well as traditional leaders to educate their followers and subjects that terrorism was not a religious issue.

He said terrorism was a misguided doctrine hinged on unfounded Islamic principles.

Buratai added that there was every need to also appeal to the conscience of the terrorists which would go a long way to de-radicalising them.

This, he said, would enable the society to erase the wrong notion in them that they were fighting a just cause.

``It is a satanic cause and we call on our leaders to really work on their psyche so we can avoid any future occurrence.

``We give glory to God for keeping us alive to see today. We earmarked today as the day for Muslim prayers, as part of the activities to mark the Nigeria Army since its establishment 153 years ago.

``This calls for celebration and sober reflection as well, because of our experience in the past. We fought several wars and battles’’, he said.

The Director of Islamic Affairs, Mogadishu Cantonment, Nigerian Army, Col. Shehu Mustapher, congratulated the army as it celebrated her 153rd anniversary.

Mustapher urged all officers and men to continue with the good work they were doing in order to move the country forward.

He also urged Muslims to take their time to study the Holy Quran very well and make it their companion for better understanding of the religion.

``Unless we read the Holy Quran and understand the content very well and apply it, there will always be problems of misinterpretation.

`` And once there is a problem of misinterpretation, it can lead to religious extremism’’, he added.