Enough is enough – COAS
By Abdullahi Gulloma and Jibrin Baba Ndace, Abuja with agency report
President Muhammadu Buhari is on a headlong discussion on the possibilities of nipping the issue of Boko Haram insurgency in the bud with his US counterpart, Barack Obama.
It would be recalled that Obama’s wife, Michelle, was involved in the online campaign tagged #BringBackOurGirls, after the group kidnapped over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok last year.
The US had sent surveillance flights over Nigeria to help locate the students, but refused to sell weapons to Nigeria because of concerns over its army’s human rights record.
The two presidents are also expected to discuss the recovery of money stolen by Nigerian officials, which was believed to have been deposited in US bank accounts.
Buhari, a former military ruler, was invited to Washington shortly after winning election in May – the first time an opposition candidate had won a national election.
Nigeria is seeking US co-operation in combating Boko Haram militants.
The US had previously agreed to help Nigeria fight the insurgency, especially after more than 200 school girls were kidnapped by the militants group from their dormitory in Chibok early last year.
However, relations between the US and the administration of Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan, soured, amid accusations of human rights violations by the Nigerian military.
President Buhari will also seize the opportunity to seek US assistance to recover billions of dollars from bank accounts in the United States, Switzerland and elsewhere.
The US and other G7 countries had promised to assist Nigeria discover the money – if the country could provide evidence that it had been stolen from the country.
Nigeria will also need US assistance in the fight against corruption, which is one of the issues the country’s president had promised to tackle during his campaign days.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Tukur Buratai, has warned Boko Haram terrorists that enough is enough on their senseless killing of innocent civilians and destruction of property in the North east.
Buratai gave this warning in an interview with Blueprint at 103 Battalion, Nigerian Army in Konduga, Borno state after the renaming of operation zaman lafiya to “operation lafiya dole”.
The new Army Chief disclosed that the renaming of the operation was intended to bring vigour to the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria and; to send a strong and final warning to the terrorists that enough is enough.
He said: “We renamed the operation in order to bring new vigour to the operation and also to send a strong signal to the terrorists. It is clear that Boko Haram terrorists do not understand language of peace and order. We are determined to enforce peace in the North east.”
The COAS also used the occasions to inform the troops of his vision and the resolve to end the activities of Boko Haram terrorists which is to have a professionally proactive force that is prepared to plays its constitutional role.
He also assured them of the Federal Government’s support and that all necessary equipment and facilities would be provided to actualize the defeat of the insurgency.
He commended them for their resilience, bravery and dedication and enjoined them to take the initiative and be more proactive. He commanded that troops should do more by pursuing and destroying Boko Haram terrorists within the bound of Rules of Engagement.
General Buratai further warned that he would not tolerate any act of indiscipline or cowardice from any soldier. He also exhorted commanders to be more proactive and respond promptly to distress calls. In line with his vision, some of the identified challenges in the frontline were proactively addressed through specific directives.