The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered the military officers to wipe out terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements from the surface of the earth.

President Buhari gave the directive on Thursday at the graduation ceremony of 247 of the Senior Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, near Kaduna State.

Buhari said, “The Armed Forces Command and Staff College has been pivotal to the achievements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Furthermore, the College provides a broad platform for training members of the Armed Forces of friendly countries and Senior Course 44 is no exception.

“This graduation is a milestone in the careers of the 247 graduating students today. You have made a success of this course after 48 daunting weeks and I say to you all, congratulations!

“The response of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, militancy, kidnapping as well as the activities of separatists and armed militias amongst others have been commendable.

“This government will continue to provide the required guidance and support to ensure that the desired results are achieved.”

The president said “We have witnessed recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria bearing the hallmark of national and trans-border insurgents trying to cause havoc in Nigeria as well as in neighbouring countries.

“It’ll be part of your duty to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries,” he said.