The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major -General Babagana Monguno (rtd),the Chief of Defence Staff,Lieutenant General Abayomi Olonisakin and the Army, Naval and Air force chiefs of staff, as well as the Police Inspector General, yesterday stormed Maiduguri for a personal evaluation of the security challenge in the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The NSA, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs -Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (Army);Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibs (Navy) and Air Maarshal Sadique Abubakar (Air Force) – were decorated with their new ranks 24 hours earlier by President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave them three months to end the insurgency.
The NSA, accompanied by the service chiefs and IGP Solomon Arase, paid a courtesy call on Governor Kashim Shettima at the Government House in Maiduguri, with a vow that Boko Haram days are numbered.
He said: “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 a reassessment of the military operations to end the insurgency in three months. As you can see, the President has picked the right service chiefs to end this senseless terror.
“We are to assess all the military operational details that will facilitate the various aerial and ground troops’ fight against Boko Haram . This has to be done before we can launch a consistent and rapid campaign against terror and terrorists activities in the North East and the country at large.
“We are not going to work against your interest restoring peace and unity to the North East. We are here for all of you affected by this terrorism that has claimed the lives of many of your sons, daughters, parents, guardians, including traditional and religious leaders sacked from towns and villages for over six years.”
He sought the assistance of the people of the state by way of ‘credible information’ to end the insurgency. ” People should come out from their closets and assist the military to end this insurgency,” he said. Receiving the delegation, Governor Shettima said the government and the people would not shirk their responsibility in the anti Boko Haram fight.
He said the insurgency has claimed up to 300,000 lives across 20 local government areas of the state. He added: “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 will be proud of all of you here in Maiduguri,” Shettima said.
