Tukur Yusuf Buratai

Tukur Yusuf Buratai
Chief of Army Staff
Assumed office
July 2015
Preceded by LT-Gen. Kenneth Minimah
Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force
In office
May 2014 – July 2015
Preceded by Brig-Gen. E. Ransome-Kuti
Succeeded by Maj-Gen. Iliya Abbah
Personal details
Born (1960-11-24) 24 November 1960
Alma mater Nigerian Defence Academy
University of Maiduguri
Military service
Allegiance  Nigeria
Service/branch Nigerian Army
Years of service 1981 –
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands Multinational Joint Task Force
Battles/wars Boko Haram Insurgency War

Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai is the current and 26th[1] Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, appointed to the position by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13, 2015.[2] He was commissioned in 1983 and has had multiple command, administrative, and instructional appointments.

Background and education

General Buratai is from Buratai town, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. His father, Yusuf Buratai, was a non commissioned officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force and World War II veteran who fought in Burma.[3] General Buratai had his primary education at Buratai town and thereafter gained admission to Government Teachers College Potiskum, Yobe State, where he graduated with distinction.

Military career

In January 1981, Buratai attended the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna as a member of the 29 Regular Combatant Course (29 RC). On successful completion of his Officer Cadet training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 17th December 1983 into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army.[4] Buratai has a degree in History from University of Maiduguri and a degree in Philosophy from Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka.[5]

He served in 26 Amphibious Battalion Elele, Port Harcourt, Military Observer at the United Nations Verification Mission II in Angola; later 26 Guards Battalion, Lagos; Lagos Garrison Command Camp. Lt Gen Buratai also served as administrative officer at the State House, Abuja; 82 Motorized Battalion; 81 Battalion, Bakassi Peninsular; Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja before he became a Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, earning the prestigious "Pass Staff College Dagger" (psc(+)) appellation. [4]

Subsequently, he served at AHQ Dept of Army Policy and Plans, Abuja; Assistant Chief of Staff Administrative Matters, HQ Infantry Centre Jaji. Additionally, he was again at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College as Director Dept of Land Warfare from where he was appointed Commander 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, doubling as Commander, Sector 2 JTF Operation PULO SHIELD. Upon promotion to the rank of Major General, he was appointed Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji; thereafter he was appointed Director of Procurement DHQ before being appointed Force Commander of the newly reconstituted Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTNF) under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic, an appointment he held till he became Chief of Army Staff. [4]

His operational deployments include Military Observer at the United Nations Verification Mission II in Angola, Op HARMONY IV in the Bakassi Peninsular, OP MESA, Op PULO SHIELD, Op SAFE CONDUCT, MNJTF, Op ZAMAN LAFIYA and Op LAFIYA DOLE. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff on July 13, 2015.[2]

Dates of promotion

Buratai's promotion dates are[4]

Awards

Lt Gen Buratai’s honours and awards include;

References

  1. ↑ "Nigerian Army Chronicle of Command". Nigerian Army. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 George, Agba. "Major General TY Buratai New Chief Of Army Staff". Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Abubakar, Shehu. "COAS Lt.-Gen. Buratai's dad speaks...I didn't ask my son to join the army'". Daily Trust. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Major General Tukur Yusufu Buratai". Nigerian Army. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Somorin, Kunle. "Lt – Gen Tukur Buratai: The Conqueror Of Boko Haram". Leadership Nigeria. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Agba, George. "As Service Chiefs Get Promotion: PMB Gives Marching Orders On Boko Haram". Leadership Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
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