Biu Agog As Buratai Becomes Betara Of Biu Emirate

It was glitz and glamour as dignitaries from all walks of life stormed  Biu Emirate in Borno State Northeast Nigeria to honor the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai as he was turbaned as the Betara of Biu on Friday, October 27th, 2023.

The epoch-making event took place at the Emir of Biu’s Palace, Alhaji (Dr.) Mustafa Umar Mustafa II, CON. By this appointment, Lt Gen TY Buratai (rtd), will be among the Kingmakers of the emirate as the title is the third in the hierarchy of traditional title holders of Biu Emirate.

In attendance were the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Deputy Governor of Borno State, Usman Kadafur, Former COAS,  LT General  Farouk Yahaya, Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, HRH  (Dr.) Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude (Tegbosun III),  traditional rulers, and a host of other eminent personalities.

Apart from being a retired military general and an ambassador, the former Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR, the Garkuwan Keffi, the Jagunmolu of Saki land and the Bakore of Akure Kingdom is a celebrated Nigerian who distinguished himself in the service of his fatherland. His ethical and professional display throughout his reign as the Chief of Army Staff earned him an Ambassadorial position where he fostered a cordial relationship between the Republic of Benin and Nigeria.

Buratai has a sterling reputation as a military officer and his dedication and role in the fight against terrorism and insurgency are well-documented in the history of Nigeria. Under his watch, Nigeria conducted a successful 2019 general election with voters in the northeastern part of the country fully participating in the exercise. He decimated, degraded and technically defeated Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria and made the northeast a safe zone for the residents.

Ambassador TY Buratai, as he is fondly called, is an accomplished Nigerian. His track records as the Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador have earned him numerous awards and recognition in Nigeria and beyond. The latest of such recognition is his Turbanning Ceremony today as BETARA of Biu Emirate by His Royal Highness, The Emir of Biu Alhaji Dr Mustafa Umar Mustafa II, CON. He would also be conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) Honoris Causa by the Nigerian Army University Biu on Saturday, October 28th, 2023.