PHOTONEWS: Buhari, Osinbajo decorate new Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari, and his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday decorated new heads of the Nigerian military in Abuja.

The president ordered the officials to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents within three months.

The decorated service chiefs – General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin , Chief of Defence Staff; Lt-General T.Y. Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar , Chief of Air Staff – were appointed on July 13 and confirmed by the Senate on August 4.

Apart from asking the soldiers to resolving the insurgency in three months, the president also charged them to ensure that armed banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality are phased out within the same period.

Mr. Buhari asked the service chiefs to re-professionalise the military and ensure troops are well trained and equipped before going to battle.

“You should also ensure that they abide with the newly enforced rules and relations of international standards while carrying out their assigned tasks,” he said. “In particular you must protect innocent civilians and respect the rights of combatant. This no doubt will earn the support of local communities and the respect of our allies and support of international community,” Buhari told the new service chiefs.