Pointblanknews.com exclusively gathered that instead of purchasing new operational vehicles for troops as purposed by the federal government, the then Chief Of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai bought second-hand Toyota Land Cruiser trucks which were repainted and sent to be used for fight against insurgency.
Pointblanknews.com sources revealed that between the last part of 2015 and early 2016, all the 3 service chiefs were given N10bn each by the federal government as part of efforts to rejuvenate their services.
However, rather than deploy those resources to purchasing new equipment for soldiers in battle, Gen. Buratai ordered for second-hand Toyota Land cruisers from Niger Republic through his front, Usman Gamawa who owns Baggash Investment Limited and Nigerian arms dealer who is currently at-large.
The source further stated that a branch office for Baggash Investment Limited was hurriedly opened at the former NAOWA Shopping Complex for ease of executing fraudulent and criminal activities.
Giving the chilling details, the source said: “The imported second hand vehicles were first deposited in Gamawa’s Office at NAOWA Shopping Complex where mechanics were brought under then Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Dadan Garba.
“From there, the vehicles were moved to Mogadishu Cantonment Workshop under the cover of darkness. Some of the vehicles had to be pushed because they cannot start on their own. The vehicles were then painted in camouflage colours which cover their old age.
“These vehicles were then moved to Maiduguri for induction into operations. Sometimes, the journeys used to take one to two weeks depending on the frequencies of breakdowns en-route. These vehicles were delivered to troops as new ones.
“On many occasions, the unsuspecting troops used these vehicles and during encounters, the vehicles were not starting and the troops had to extricate themselves on foot and in unfortunate instances when Boko Haram pursue in their Hilux, they often easily catch up with some the troops which they slaughtered them.
“Back in Abuja, without any feeling, the troops were accused of fleeing on foot rather than using the dead vehicles. A very pathetic situation due to criminal actions carried out by Buratai. When this issue was earlier brought to the public, nothing was done hence aluta continua with renewed corrupt enthusiasm.” The source lamented.