The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen (rtd) Babagana Monguno and four other Service Chiefs for Defence, Nigerian Army, Air Force and Police have declared to end Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property in the North East sub-region of the country.
Monguno made the “declarations and pledges” yesterday in Maiduguri, when five Service Chiefs paid an official courtesy visit to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state at the Government House.
The four other Service Chiefs include the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj-Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Baba Sadiq Abubakar; and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, led by Monguno.
He said the most pressing issue in the country, was the Boko Haram insurgency; and that was why President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced all the Service Chiefs to end these terror attacks and bombings in the affected North East sub-region of Nigeria.
“There was a tendency of replacing the service chiefs with a mandate from the President to end Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed a lot of lives and property in the North East. In less than 24 hours after we were sworn in and decorated by the President, we are here in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital for the reassessment of military operations end insurgency in three months,” said Monguno; noting that the President has picked the right service chiefs end terrorism.
He assured the governor and the people of Borno state that the service chiefs, will not be found wanting fight and end Boko Haram insurgency that has claimed many lives and property.
“For us here in Maiduguri to end this insurgency, we are to assess all the military operational details that will facilitate various ‘aerial and ground troops’ fight Boko Haram to the finish. This could be completed before we can launch a consistent and rapid campaign against terror and terrorists activities in the North East and the country at large,” pledges Monguno yesterday.
He however noted that the military alone cannot end insurgency that has already destroyed many people’s lives and property.
He said the victory over Boko Haram cannot be won, without involving the larger society.
“We are not going to work against your interest of restoring peace and unity in the North East. We are here to all of your affected by this terrorism that claimed the lives of many of your sons, daughters, parents, guardians, including your traditional and religious leaders sacked from towns and villages for over six years. We want you also to help us with credible information end this insurgency,” warning that the people should come out from their closets and assist the military end insurgency.
Responding, Governor Shettima said that the people had been cooperating with the military and other security agencies end Boko Haram insurgency; that has caused a lot of havoc on people’s lives and property for the five or six years.
“We are giving you our unalloyed support and cooperation to all the Service Chiefs committed in fighting to end this Boko Haram madness that killed over 300, 000 people and the destruction of towns and villages in 20 Local Government Areas of our state, Borno,” said Shettima to Monguno, who led the delegation of service chiefs.
On victims of insurgency, Shettima said: “We will continue to work for the people by investing in education, so that our children and future generations do not become another new set of insurgents.
“We are saying that we are against Boko Haram, because of the establishment of our Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to end this madness of incessant killings and destruction of people’s property in not only in Borno state, but the neighbouring states of Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi in the North East.
“If this Boko Haram madness comes to an end; your names will be written in gold; and the country and its citizenry be proud of all of you here in Maiduguri”. End
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