Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, revealed that for the country to win the war against terrorism, there was the need for diplomatic lobbying for foreign assistance in areas of equipment. Also, yesterday, the Federal Government assured that no Nigerian Soldier would die in vain, even as a retired general, now a Senator, Ahmed Saleh said the battle against insurgency was far from being over, saying “what we are seeing is a complete deterioration of the situation.”
US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who expressed deep concerns of her country on the activities of the Islamic sect in the country while participating in the International Conference on Security in Abuja, declared that failure was not an option.
The militants on Monday reportedly took Bama, 70 kilometres (45 miles) from the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, where 10,000 youths, former soldiers and police gathered on Thursday, vowing to push back the advance. Multiple testimonies from residents, who have been fleeing Bama all week, contradicted military claims that soldiers still held the town.
“The truth is that Boko Haram fighters are in firm control of Bama,” said one resident, Muhammadu Mai Tumatur, who escaped to Maiduguri. “They have occupied the military barracks and the palace of the emir and they have hoisted their flags in both places. There is not a single soldier in the town. The gunmen are in control.”
Hundreds of soldiers abandoned their posts, some crossing the border into Cameroon, although the military said they had not fled but were conducting “tactical manoeuvres” that crossed the frontier.
Before the capture of Bama, Borno’s second largest town last Monday, the militants had seized Gamboru Ngala, Buni Yadi in Yobe State and Madagali in Adamawa, with Nigerian troops seemingly unable to match their firepower.
Other towns reportedly taken over by the terrorists include Gwoza, Banki, and Bara.
The US envoy, however, warned that Boko Haram constituted a serious threat to Nigeria and her neighbours and must be viewed in that light, as according to her, the claimed capture of towns by Boko Haram indicated a “steadily worsening” security situation.
Her words: “We are very troubled by the apparent capture of Bama and the prospects for an attack on and in Maiduguri, which would impose a tremendous toll on the civilian population. All of these developments are deeply disturbing, and increasingly dangerous with each passing day. The reputation of Nigeria’s military is at stake. But more importantly, Nigeria’s and its children’s future is in jeopardy. Failure is not an option”.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said Washington would soon announce the launch of a major border security programme, which will include Nigeria and its neighbours — Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
She added that the stakes were high after experts warned that the government risked losing control of the north-east and the violence could spread across borders.
There has been a controversy over whether or not the military forces were able to successfully repel the insurgents which seized Gwoza and declared it a caliphate. It was reported that the insurgents have been targeting Maiduguri, the state capital which is only about 70 kilometers from Bama, leading to the imposition of a curfew in the ancient town by the military.
Bama residents said heavily armed militants were roaming the town and had until now spared civilians.
One of them, Mustapha Tor, said a “large number” of troops were in Kawuri, 20 kilometres away, although they had not mounted a counter-attack. Most people had left because of previous atrocities, he added.
“We know what they did in Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala, where they told residents they could stay but later turned and killed them,” Tor said.
In Maiduguri, youths, local hunters armed with home-made guns and bows and arrows as well as former soldiers and police, promised to fight the militants and end the insurgency.
The state co-ordinator of the civilian vigilantes, Mallam Abba Aji Kalli, said: “We are optimistic that with our gora (sticks in Hausa) and other local arms, we will raid all terrorist hideouts and kill them when given permission by the federal government.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh has revealed that for the country to win the war against terrorism, there was the need for diplomatic lobbying for foreign assistance in areas of equipment. But the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Mohammed Saleh said it was impossible for the military to win the terror war with the present obsolete equipment and the alleged fraud in Ministry of Defence and the armed services.
Senator Saleh said that after the Gideon Okar coup of 1990, during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, the military was systematically and comprehensively disarmed which now makes it impossible for the army to effectively confront any external aggression. Speaking at the National Assembly Joint Committee on Defence yesterday, the Chief of Defence Staff said that since the declaration of state of emergency in the three North East states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, the Armed Forces had been engaged in a sustained operation against the terrorists.
According to Air Marshal Badeh: “In the last one month, troops have sustained on-going offensive operations both in and outside7th Division areas of operation to shape the theatre, establish fighting positions and limiting Boko Haram freedom of movement within the area of operation.
“Significantly, troops are currently carrying out unlimited offensive operations aimed at denying Boko haram freedom of action and from achieving its aim to isolate and control areas around Maiduguri. “Additionally, the involvement of the international community, which led to the establishment of the joint planning committee on May 12, 2014, the initial mandate of the joint coordination and planning committee which is championed by America and Britain was the fusion of intelligence for the rescue of abducted Chibok girls.
“But this gradually is being extended to other aspects of the operations. I want to state here that the military is highly engaged in operations in view of achieving favourable outcomes. “Moreover, the continued attacks by the terrorists justify the imposition and extension of state of emergency because there is no alternative. Let me just say that Nigerians need not lose hope in the military but continue to support her in a bid to defeat the terrorists. “Secondly, all other elements of national power should contribute more in support of military operations. Right now, the element of national power we are using is the military. Other elements of national power are not being engaged sufficiently. “There is also the need for diplomatic lobbying for our foreign partners to provide more assistance in areas of equipment and whatever they can give us.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government vowed yesterday that it will do everything within its powers to ensure that the heroic sacrifices being made by members of the armed forces prosecuting the battle to flush out Boko Haram insurgency from our country as well as protecting the territorial integrity were not in vain. Making the disclosure at the inauguration of the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration planning committee in Abuja, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila noted this year’s celebration will be especially significant because the Armed Forces have shown tremendous commitment and passion towards uniting the country and keeping it as one indivisible entity.
Represented by Alhaji Babayo Shehu, the Permanent Secretary said, “We are celebrating the heroic sacrifices made by these men and women in restoring and defending the sovereignty of our nation. This also includes those who have sacrificed their lives in the development of the armed forces and the country at large like those gallant officers and men that lost their lives in the fight against insurgency in the North Eastern axis of the country”.
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