28th August, 2020
By Hamza Suleiman/Biu Borno State
An institute for War and Peace built, in honour of the chief of army staff and located in his hometown of Buratai, has been commissioned by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.
The institute is touted as part of the concerted efforts to overcome the challenges of insurgency in the Northeast.
Zulum lauded the foresight of the Nigerian Army in building the institute, located in Buratai, the hometown of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai.
Buratai is part of Biu Local Government Area of the state.
Zulum regretted that the insurgency had “inflicted debilitating impact” on the state and the neighbouring 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 the 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 said that it was for such reason that the state government was devoting its limited resources to empower and encourage the people to return to their communities.
“The army is a reliable partner in this endeavour,” he said, adding that the state government shall work with the institute to design a template and programmes for peace building, reconstruction and development of the communities.
He appreciated the sacrifices of gallant troops, saying, “We shall continue to support the Armed Forces.
“When we occasionally criticise them, we do so with a view to improving on our successes and not out of lack of appreciation.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said one of the greatest challenges facing the world today is terrorism with its huge toll on human lives.
He said the institute is part of Nigerian Army’s aim of understanding all forms of warfare, particularly new forms of asymmetric conflict, including terrorism and insurgency.
“The Tukur Buratai Institute aims at training and capacity building for military personnel as well as civilians in counter-terrorism and insurgency, humanitarian responses, peace building and construction.
The institute has six centres, including research, documentation, counter-terrorism and insurgency, cyber security, strategic communication and centre for museum 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 is part of army’s efforts of defeating the Boko Haram insurgency not only by kinetic force.
Mohammed said that in 2014, Buratai town was attacked by insurgents.
He opined that the institute would intellectually provide education, which the insurgents detested in their campaigns of war.
“Academicians intend to look for and proffer solutions to end the ongoing war with Boko Haram and abet future occurrences.
“The institute’s building was donated by Buratai in 2015 as a museum, where relics of war and insurgency were displayed.
“In 2019, the Nigerian Army decided to upgrade the museum to become a centre for counter-terrorism and insurgency,” Mohammed said.
According to him, this year, the University Council in its wisdom thought it necessary to upgrade the centre to an institute.
“It will deal with post-conflict peace building and reconstruction, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.
“The centre will also study other forms of conflict around the country and beyond.
“We aspire to be the centre of excellence in post-conflict peace building and proffering solutions to violent conflict,” the VC said.
He said the institute would be devoted to the study of all aspects of war and peace.
The 11 year-old Boko Haram insurgency has claimed at least 36,000 lives with the destruction of over $9 billion (N3.42 trillion) worth of property in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states