Mallam Yusuf Buratai, the father of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has passed away in Maiduguri on Friday morning, the Nigeria army has said. According to the Director of Public Relation of Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Kukahsaka Usman, the man passed on in his house along Baga Road in Maiduguri on Friday morning.
Mallam Yusuf Buratai, the father of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has passed away in Maiduguri on Friday morning, the Nigeria army has said.
According to the Director of Public Relation of Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Kukahsaka Usman, the man passed on in his house along Baga Road in Maiduguri on Friday morning.
Late Yusuf is survived by 14 children, including the chief of army staff and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be buried in Maiduguri today according to Muslim rites
He was also military personnel, having been a non-commissioned officer in the West African Frontier Force.
On the other hand, Tukur who hails from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2015.
He was elevated to the rank of a Lieutenant General a few weeks after his appointment.
Since he took over as the Army Chief, the Nigerian Army has recorded myriads of tangible achievements particularly in the war against the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s north-east region.
Recall Buratai worn the “Special Recognition Award in Fight Against Terrorism.” In February,2017 by the African Leadership Magazine in an event that held at Sandton Sun Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa where the immediate past President of Ghana Dr. John Dramani Mahama decorated Buratai in absentia, but through a worthy representative, Major Gen. Peter Dauke, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division.
The Chief of Army Staff, Turkur Buratai, again emerged the Africa Man of the Year 2017 Award for his personal commitment to the anti-insurgency war in Nigeria and, by extension, West Africa sub-region an elite event that was organized by the Coalition for Good Governance and Leadership in Africa.
According to a statement signed by the Coalition, Mr Buratai deserved the award “for being rare officer, a real gentleman, whose patriotic zeal in executing the war against Boko Haram is exemplary”.
We sympathize with the Chief of Army staff and pray that God will give him and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
By Chrys Anyanwu
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