COAS Tours Colombia Armed Forces Facilities

Fri, Feb 5, 2016
By publisher
2 MIN READ

BREAKING NEWS, Security

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TUKUR Yusufu Buratai, a lieutenant-general and chief of Army Staff, COAS, recently led a delegation of some senior Nigerian Army officers to major military formations/institutions of the Armed Forces of Colombia.

The visit which was the first since Buratai assumed office was to offer the delegation an opportunity to inter-face with the Colombian Armed Forces on their efforts so far in resolving the armed insurgency and possible lessons for the Nigerian Army.

The COAS and his entourage on arrival at the Colombian Army headquarters were received by Albert Jose Mejia, a general and Colombian chief of Army Staff, who briefed them on different categories of operations by his country’s Army, as well as drew analogy between what his country was going through and that of Nigeria in justifying the visit of the Nigerian COAS.

COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, in a hand shake with the Colombian Army Chief, Gen Albert Jose Mejia (left), during the visit
COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, in a hand shake with the Colombian Army Chief, Gen Albert Jose Mejia (left), during the visit

Highlights of the brief include the 50-year war against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and other insurgent groups that brought about the ongoing peace talks, the deliberate effort by the Colombian military to unravel the identity of the various insurgent groups which composed of support groups, political groups, core fighting groups, leading to the decapitation of key leaders of the insurgents, the establishment of joint operations, emphasis on civil-military cooperation to win the hearts and minds of the local population in areas where government presence were non-existent, among others.

The visit took Buratai and his entourage to formations, military institutions, aviation unit and the Engineer Corps of the Colombian Armed Forces.

A statement by Sani Usman, a colonel and acting director, Army Public Relations, said was pertinent to note that Colombia had been battling insurgency in the past 50 years.

Consequently, the COAS’ visit to Colombia was primarily to meet minds with his Colombian counterpart on the best strategies to combat insurgency in Nigeria.

COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (5th left), Colombian Army Chief, Gen Albert Jose Mejia (6th right), senior officers and other dignitaries
COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (5th left), Colombian Army Chief, Gen Albert Jose Mejia (6th right), senior officers and other dignitaries

— Feb 5, 2016 @ 14:40 GMT

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