TheCable

Kashim Shettima, vice-president-elect and Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff, have launched a trilogy authored by Jibrin Ndace, a defence correspondent, in honour of Tukur Buratai, former chief of army staff.

Bashir Magashi, minister of defence, was also present at the book launch which took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Saturday.

The books are: “Walking the War Front with Lt. Gen. TY Buratai,” “Duty Call Under Buratai’s Command” and “The Lonely Grave and Other Poems”.

The books highlight the war against Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) insurgency in the north-east under the leadership of Buratai.

Shettima, represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, a senator, congratulated Ndace and described the trilogy as “outstanding intellectual works”.

He noted that readers of the works would find factual accounts of how the Nigerian military and its troops have been at the forefront of defending the nation’s sovereignty against insurgents.

In his speech, Magashi said the media has a duty to inform, educate, and rally support for the armed forces rather than to promote hatred and stoke passion.

“I, therefore, congratulate Gen. Buratai for his exceptional and patriotic service to our fatherland, and wish the author greater milestones in his career and new-found role as a contributor to military history,” the defence minister said.

Irabor, in a goodwill message, explained that the leadership of Buratai joined troops to fight insurgents from the frontline, to encourage and boost their morale.

“One thing is, Gen. Buratai is a man who listens to his subordinates and he has a great influence on the men and officers of the armed forces, and posterity will judge him most kindly,” the chief of defence staff said.

Buratai was Nigeria’s chief of army staff from 2015 to 2021.