Visa Ban Threats: “I don’t mind if I live the rest of my life in Nigeria” – Buratai

On Monday, Army Chief of Staff Tukur Buratai said some “illegal elements” threatened military officers with a travel ban over the EndSARS rally.

Noting that he was already 50 years old and an army general for the first time traveling outside the country, Buratai said he would not mind “if I live here (in Nigeria) for the rest of my life.”

After some soldiers opened fire on peaceful and unarmed endSARS demonstrators at Lekki tollgate in Lagos State on October 20, the Nigerian Army stayed in the eye of the storm.

Lagos and some other areas of the world exploded into violence that led to the destruction of lives and assets during the Lekki shooting.

Speaking at a conference with military commanders in Abuja on Monday, Buratai frowned at Nigerians asking for a visa ban on military officers and some foreign organizations threatening them on the grounds of alleged human rights abuses.

He said, “Criminal elements are threatening us with travel ban but we are not worried because we must remain in this country to make it better.

“The first time I travelled outside of this country, I was already 50 years and a General, so I don’t mind if I live the rest of my life here.”

Buratai vowed that the army was never going to allow any agent in or outside Nigeria set the country on fire, adding that the army remained resolute at ensuring that ”subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of Nigeria” did not destabilise the country.

“The events of the past few days in our dear nation have shown the determination of some unscrupulous individuals and groups to destabilise Nigeria by all means.

“These individuals, groups and other undesirable elements have hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protest marches resulting to widespread violence, acts of wanton destruction and looting of public and private properties in many parts of the country. These acts led to the imposition of curfew in several states of the federation.

“Despite all these, the army has continued to exercise restraint applied all the principles of internal security operations and fully abided by the internationally recognised rules of engagement as contained in our published standard operating procedures for internal security operations which are derived from the International human rights laws and are in accordance with the international principles guiding the use of force,” he said.