Boko Haram: December Deadline On Insurgency Unrealistic

From: Bamidele Fasube
The Executive Secretary, Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air
Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd) on Thursday disclosed that the December,
2015 deadline set for the Nigerian Army (NA) to end insurgency is
unrealistic.
Anas said though the military has performed wonderfully well following
appropriate motivations, adding that it was not morally wrong to set
targets but there are still lots to do such as deactivating landmines
in some parts of the north east.
The former Air force spokesperson, who spoke during a briefing in
Abuja, said, “It must also be stated that this target date might be
unrealistic. This submission is predicated on the fact that asymmetric
warfare which the Boko Haram is prosecuting against the Nigeria is not
such that can be easily be stamped out by the Armed Forces.
“The timeline on when to stop the insurgents from activating sleeper
cells and detonating bombs into soft targets in any part of the
country, especially in the frontline states is therefore, no tenable
in the current efforts by the armed forces of Nigeria.”
He urged Muhammadu Buhari led administration to also consider public
reorientation and awareness creation on need to live in harmony.
According to him, military power cannot be sole option to ending insurgency.
Anas also tasked religious leaders to partake in ensuring the nation
is peacefully restored.
Speaking on agitation for Biafra, he said: “the Centre strongly
believes that the issue of the State of Biafra was historically rested
in 1970 following the end of the civil war.
“Therefore, secession should not be an option for any individual or
group in Nigeria especially after the 30 months war that killed,
maimed millions of lives and destroyed unquantifiable property and
infrastructure.
“Unguarded statements and violent demonstrations are therefore
unhelpful and capable of escalating unnecessary crisis.”