Maiduguru – Suspected Boko Haram militants burned down houses, including the family home of Nigeria’s new army chief, in a village in the northeast of the country on Tuesday, a policeman, military source and witnesses said.
At least two people were killed and eight injured in Buratai in Borno state, resident Adamu Talba and the military source said, but Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, was not present at the time of the attack in the early hours.
Buratai on Sunday sounded a drumbeat of war to Boko Haram when he visited Borno.
He said: “The ongoing activities of Boko Haram is assuming an alarming dimension in Borno and other parts of the north east,” he said. “We will not tolerate the killing of citizens and destruction of property. In as much as we urge you (troops) to adhere strictly to human rights abuses, the time to crush Boko Haram and other criminal activities in this country is now or never.
“As chief of army staff, I will be actively involved in this ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole’ to end the madness of Boko Haram if I will have your collective maximum support and cooperation.
“My doors will always remain open to all of you for constructive criticism and advice towards restoration of peace in this part of the country.
“Therefore, we are here to identify with you and to officially inform you that as from today henceforth, we have changed our Operational Code from Operation Zaman Lafiya to ‘Operation Zaman Lafiya Dole’.”
