I renew my pledge to crush Boko Haram – Buhari
ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Niger Republic renewed his vow to crush the Boko Haram Islamic sect, saying “five years of the presence of this evil sect is enough.”
ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Niger Republic renewed his vow to crush the Boko Haram Islamic sect, saying “five years of the presence of this evil sect is enough.”
Speaking at a news conference in Niger during his first visit outside
the country since inauguration, Buhari expressed confidence in the
ability of the Nigerian military to overcome and eradicate Boko Haram.
At the news conference with Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, he
also said that Nigeria will soon take over from Nigerien soldiers who
occupy towns liberated from the Islamist militant group. He noted that
the Nigerian Army which has earned a good reputation worldwide remains a
virile fighting force.
His words: “I renew my commitment to track Boko Haram into a corner, to
destroy it. Five years of the presence of this evil sect is enough. On
the issue of the Niger military positioned in cities of Nigeria, I think
in the next four weeks we will be able to replace them with Nigerian
forces so they can return to their country”.
Buhari said the other nations would provide weapons and help restore
infrastructure destroyed by the insurgents. He also thanked Niger for
hosting as many as 150,000 refugees who fled insecurity in Nigeria to
Niger.
A statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity quoted the President as saying that
because of the peculiarity of insurgency, Nigeria will require the
assistance of its neighbours.
“I am four days in office today and we have already started the process of ending the insurgency,” the President said.
He disclosed that in the course of the over five hours meeting he held
with heads of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and security agencies on Tuesday,
on-going operations against Boko Haram were reviewed for better results.
President Buhari said that because of the peculiarities of terrorism,
the movement of terrorists across borders and the unconventional nature
of the war against terror, Nigeria will continue to seek the support of
neighbouring countries in its bid to overcome Boko Haram.
The President said that his visit to Niger was to seek more support from
the country in bringing a quick end to the atrocities of Boko Haram.
President Buhari said he would hold similar meetings on security and the
war against terrorism with the Chadian authorities after leaving Niamey
today.
The President said Nigeria would also require the assistance of other
nations and multi-lateral institutions to rebuild areas that have been
adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency and rehabilitate
displaced persons.
Niger President commends Buhari
In his remarks, the President of Niger commended President Buhari for
making Niger the first country he will visit after his inauguration.
“Your decision to move the military command of Nigeria to the North-East
has further strengthened our conviction that the war against terrorism
will soon come to an end,” he told President Buhari, while assuring him
that Niger will continue to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko
Haram.
“Niger is ready to help flush out Boko Haram and protect its borders,
its people and their property,” Issoufou said, adding that a new
multinational force of 8,700 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon
and Benin to combat the insurgency in the Lake Chad region will become
operational in the coming weeks.
At the opening of bilateral talks between Nigeria and Niger earlier,
President Buhari praised his host’s contributions to the on-going
multi-national effort against terrorism, insurgency and cross-border
crimes.
“Permit me also to acknowledge the consistency with which the government
and people of Niger Republic have stood beside Nigeria under all
circumstances. I would like to convey the appreciation of Nigeria for
the sacrifices by Niger in the on-going efforts to counter the menace of
the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Niger Republic has over the years, proven to be a reliable ally to
Nigeria both at bilateral and multilateral levels. It is our hope and
aspiration that this special relationship would be further consolidated
during my administration.
“My administration will bring new impetus and a renewed commitment to
the efforts to wipe out the menace of the Boko Haram insurgents. As a
first step, we have directed the relocation of the command post of the
counter-insurgency operations to Maiduguri until such a time that the
insurgency is completely defeated.
“Another issue of concern to us which is closely associated with the
insurgency in the region is the influx of refugees and other displaced
persons. We are aware that currently, there are over 150, 000 displaced
persons comprising refugees and returnees taking refuge in various parts
of Niger.
“Our administration will work closely with governments of the affected
states to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced
persons and their host communities.
“The ultimate objective, however, remains to end the insurgency and
facilitate their return to their homes,” President Buhari said.
Minimah, Badeh, Amosu relocate to Maiduguri tomorrow
Meanwhile, in compliance with the directive by President Buhari that the
Command and Control headquarters of the Nigerian Armed Forces should
relocate to Maiduguri, the epicentre of the Boko Haram terrorist group,
Vanguard can report authoritatively that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.
General Kenneth Minimah is to lead principal staff officers and some
directors to Maiduguri tomorrow.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu will also
relocate to Maiduguri with a contingent of his principal staff officers
and some directors at NAF headquarters.
Vanguard gathered that both the Army and the Air Force, which are
directly prosecuting the war on terrorism from the air and land, are
critical to the plan of the Buhari administration to rout Boko Haram out
of the North East, while the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal
Alex Badeh and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin will
move to Maiduguri next week.
Already, Vanguard was told that temporary office and accommodations are
being erected for the service chiefs and PSOs relocating to Maiduguri.
In the first instance, it was learnt that the Chiefs of Operations,
Chiefs of Logistics, Provost Marshals’ and Directors of Intelligence and
Information departments of the Army, Air Force and Defence Headquarters
will move to Maiduguri for effective coordination of the onslaught
against Boko Haram.
Aside the movement of the Command and Control top brass of the armed
forces, Vanguard gathered that the Army High Command has directed the
deployments of more troops from the 81 and 82 divisions of the Nigerian
Army while more aircraft from the Special Operations Group, Logistics
Command and the Mobility Command are to be deployed to swell those from
the Tactical Air Command for the operation.
Asked if the issue of funding which was cited as one of the major
problems for delay in wiping out the Boko Haram terrorism menace has
been tackled, the military source said:
“The President has taken care of that issue. He said nothing will stand
in his way to clear out the embarrassment that is Boko Haram. That is
why the movement is immediate.”
On what becomes of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army whose
headquarters is located in Maiduguri, the source said, there will be no
problem or clash, noting that a separate location and office is being
created for Army headquarters.
“Due to the urgency of the relocation, the office of the Chief of Army
Staff and his personal aides will be in place, the principal staff
officers will be accompanied with maybe one or two critical directors
and of course, there will be various support staff in place drawn from
the services headquarters”, the source added.
It will be recalled that President Buhari had a four-hour meeting with
all the service chiefs during which he was briefed about the security
situation regarding Boko Haram terrorism and what it will take to carry
out his directive to move the Command and Control headquarters to
Maiduguri, Borno State.
Asked how long the Command and Control Centre will be in Maiduguri, the
source said, “as long as the Commander-in-Chief wants, but since the
relocation is not for a jamboree, the objective will be to get the job
done as soon as possible which is military fashion.
“But that does not mean other security challenges confronting the
country will be given less attention. The economic livewire of the
country, the maritime domain will continue to receive adequate attention
as well as other contemporary challenges in several parts of the
country.
“That is why we have GOC’s, AOC’s and FOC’s in various divisions and equivalent.”