After their meeting last weekend, northern governors vowed to make sure that the Boko Haram insurgency ends in three months time. This is perhaps not the first time Nigerians are hearing an assurance like this, but the difference is that this is coming from a group many believe have not done enough to arrest the deteriorated security situation in the region, writes Emma Alozie.
If there is one problem that has divided opinions amongst Nigerians, it is the Boko Haram insurgency. If there is a problem that has also brought together many Nigerians, it is still the activities of the insurgents.
From divided opinions on the way to go and now convergence of opinions, it can be fairly argued that Nigeria as long as this insurgency is concerned has gone full circle.
Recently, a rather reticent Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF came down hard on the group, describing it as a terrorist organization, which is the first coming from that part of the country. In a meeting held last weekend under the aegis of NSGF, the chairman of the forum and Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu said that with the intervention of foreign troops, the Boko Haram insurgency will disappear in three months time.
“Contrary to insinuations that leaders in the region failed to openly condemn the rascality of the terrorists, we have instead worked subtly to see to the end of the insurgents.
“The coming of the United States’ army to rescue the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, were as a result of the meeting the northern governors held with the American government. The 19 governors that make up this forum would continue to condemn the invasion of the North and we are happy with the federal government. The group is equally happy with the United States, Britain, France, China and Canada, which have offered support to tackle the insurgents,” he said.
However, this is not the first time such assurances of ending the insurgency would be made. Earlier in the year, the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh assured that by April 2014, the insurgent’s activities would be defeated.
“The security situation in the North East must be brought to a complete stop before April 2014. We must bring it to a stop before April so that we will not have constitutional problems on our hands. We don’t want to go back to the Senate to start begging and lobbying. If we do our work cohesively, I can tell you Gen. Minimah, you will finish your work in no time. I can assure you (Minimah) that the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff will give you all the support you need. I can say confidently that this war is already won,” he said.
Curiously, the defense chief’s boast of crippling the insurgency has been fulfilled more in the breach as the Boko Haram has continued to up its ante in its campaign of terror. In fact, since the military chief’s assurances, the group has successfully detonated two devastating bombs in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja. This, to many analysts, is a way of bringing their message closer to the doorstep of the powers that be.
Coupled with the twin bombings in Nyanya, the group abducted over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno state. The abduction of the girls has raised much awareness and global condemnation prompting the president to declare that the abduction will mark the beginning of the end of Boko Haram insurgency. “I believe that the kidnapping of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terror in Nigeria,” the president told world leaders during the just concluded World Economic Forum, WEF hosted by Nigeria.
With the pressure mounted against the group and many solutions suggested so far, it may be safe to say that true to the assertion by the president, this maybe the end of the road by the Boko Haram group.
Unlike what used to be the case in the past, even the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC has been suggesting ways of cutting off the insurgency from its very roots. While addressing the press in Lagos recently, the interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande said in order to arrest the menace of the group, there must be deliberate effort by government to engage in de-radicalisation.
“The Northern region is in urgent need of a counter-radicalisation programme to prevent many more young people (illiterate and unemployed) from being radicalised. Such strategies would require initiatives to counter violent extremist ideology and create positive incentives against radicalisation (beyond the current focus on punitive measures – arrest, detention and killing), give voice and representation to young people in the region,” he said.
Like in every desperate situation, Nigerians are ready to give the northern governors the benefit of the doubt to bring the desperate situation to a peaceful end and the time has just started counting.
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