Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Thursday, inaugurated the Tukur Buratai Institute for War and Peace built as part of the concerted efforts to overcome the challenges of insurgency in the Northeast.

Speaking at the event, Zulum lauded the foresight of the Nigerian Army in building the institute, in Buratai, Biu Local Government Area of the state.

He regretted that the insurgency had “inflicted debilitating impact” on the state and the neighboring countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

“Our dear state is the worst affected with many citizens still in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. I’m not unaware of where we were before the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the successes recorded by the military in the war against terrorism. With the level of destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people from their communities, we have the task of rehabilitating them. The task before us now is to return the people to their communities and restart their means of livelihoods” he said.

The governor has affirmed that the state government was devoting its limited resources to empower and encourage the people to return to their communities. He has pledged his continued support to the armed forces while appreciating the efforts of the gallant troops.

In a remark, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai regretted that one of the greatest challenges facing the world today is terrorism with its huge toll on human lives. Buratai said that Nigeria has had its fair share of terrorism (Boko Haram insurgency) in the northeast part of the country. He said that the military had been working substantially with the support of government and other security agencies to end terrorism and return peace to the affected areas.

He said that the success of the troops would enable the IDPs to go back to their communities and resume their normal production activities.

The COAS said the institute had six centers, including research, documentation, counter-terrorism and insurgency, cybersecurity, strategic communication, and center for museums and archives.

In a speech, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Prof. Kyari Mohammed, said the conversion of the museum to an Institute of War and Peace was part of the army’s efforts of defeating the Boko Haram insurgency not only by kinetic force.

Source: https://today.ng