By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that a veteran Nigerian journalist, Jibrin Baba Ndace has launched three books on Nigeria’s fight against insurgency particularly in the northeast.
The books, “Walking the War Front with Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, Duty Call: Under Buratai’s Command and the Lonely Grave, and other poems” were presented to the public during the weekend at the Shehu Musa Yaradua Centre, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Vice President-Elect, Kashim Shettima commended the author for his efforts in aiding the documentation of the Nigerian Army’s history.
Shettima, who was represented by Ibrahim Hassan Hadeija, the Vice chairman of the Senate committee on public accounts extolled the virtues of Lt. Col Tukur Buratai, the retired Chief of Army Staff in whose honor, the books were launched.
Similarly, the Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen Bashir Magashi, represented at the event by his special assistant, technical, Maj. Gen Ahmed Tijjani Jibrin lauded Ndace’s distinct patriotism and show of professionalism in his work with the military.
“Few journalists are ever so passionate as the author.
“The books are much more than the bye product of journalistic assignment. He has proven that civilians and combatants can work together.
“This administration under President Buhari has been able to confront the menace of Boko Haram and others with determination and valor. Few like Ndace have decided to give credence to these efforts.
“I wish the author greater milestones to his career as a contributor to military history, “he said.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor on his part urged Nigerians to be fair in their criticism of the members of the armed forces.
“It will be unfair to disparage men and women of the armed forces who toil night and day for the rest of this society. Are we faultless? No? Are there those underperforming and gone beyond the call of duty? of course,” he stated.
Irabor, while lauding Buratai on the milestone said “Gen. Buratai is a man who listens to subordinates and I give him credit for that.
“I will like to commend him for that contribution. There was a clear turnaround from the way things were driven in the Northeast.
“The link between Buratai is that being a focused person, he was able to define the role of media intervention infused to kinetic actions of troops in the frontline.
“It’s an honor and I wish you the very best. You have a lot of influence on men and women in the armed forces. I hope posterity judges you well, “
According to the author, the books were motivated by his desire to tell the tales of the sacrifices made by men of the armed forces in the fight against insurgency, providing first-hand information, as a witness to the battles fought.
“We have a responsibility to tell the story. There are many people whose stories are here that are no longer alive.
“It’s important for Nigerians to know the sacrifice our combatants make daily. We must help in shaping the narratives for our armed forces because they can’t do that themselves,” he said.
Earlier in his remark, the Chairman Blueprint Newspapers Ltd, Mohammed Idris Malagi described the books as a comprehensive documentation of the efforts of the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency in the country.
“This has further proven my precept that the author has taken a difficult task to make sure he makes his mark on this path.
“This trilogy in my view has successfully demonstrated the efforts of the Nigerian Army in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast which is worst hit by the insurgency.
“This should be a guide and source of reference to the military particularly as it depicts the military style of Gen. TY Buratai, “he said.
