Army adopts public address system to deter Boko Haram insurgents

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Tukur Buratai yesterday, disclosed that the Nigerian Army has adopted the use of public address system to “indoctrinate and dissuade” Boko Haram insurgents from continuing with terrorism.

He made the disclosure at the commissioning of Operation Lafiya Dole’s public address system and some office and housing projects at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

Buratai said the acquisition was part of the Nigerian Army information policy in the fight against insurgency in the northeast region.

He added that the new measure is intended to drop the previous style of using leaflets and other means to disseminate anti-insurgency information.

The army chief lauded the new efforts, including the Peace FM, which he said were good initiatives by the theatre commander and his officers.

He urged the commander and other operators of the address systems to go to public places; like motor parks and others, to educate terrorists on what the military is doing to bring an end to insurgency.

Buratai assured that “We will be able to dissuade them in this manner,’ noting ‘some of them may even come
with the intention of attacking the people, but when we appeal to them in those places, they may decide to drop whatever they are carrying.

“This is the essence of communication. We want to reach everybody, so that we get the right message across to the people to ensure that they fall back into their senses and
be part of right-thinking society.”