Due to the significance of the subject in focus to the people of Northeast in particular and for the enlightenment of the Nigerian public, the speech of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State at the formal opening of the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship, which took place at the Sambisa Forest on Monday, March 27, 2017 is hereby reproduced in parts:
“Based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement, the Sambisa Forest became deceased or dead, if you like, at about 1:35pm on Thursday, 22nd of December, 2016. Three months since its demise, for me, today marks the official ‘funeral of the Sambisa Forest.’ I, Kashim Shettima, am proud to have witnessed this funeral and I congratulate all of us for being witnesses to the triumph of Good over Evil.
The Borno Government will respectfully request for partnership with the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture towards working together to construct a National Museum that we might call Sambisa Fall and International Research Centre
“I join well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate our President/Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari. I congratulate our distinguished Minister of Defence; I congratulate our service chiefs, particularly the gallant Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai. I congratulate the Giant with small looks, Major General Leo Irabor, Theater Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole. I congratulate all commanding officers and our patriotic soldiers at the battle front, who fought and recorded a major victory in our work in progress. The people of Borno State will forever remain grateful to everyone who contributed or are still contributing to the liberation of Borno State from the deadly hands of
terror.
“By this bold and creative decision to hold the Nigeria Army Small Arms Championship right here, I do not have the slightest doubt, that the fate of notorious Sambisa is totally sealed. Our military has changed the use of Sambisa from being a point where attacks on Nigeria and Nigerians were being coordinated by terrorists, to a new point where soldiers are trained to become excellent shooters whose precision is to defend Nigeria and Nigerians.
“The fall of Sambisa is both symbolic and memorable and this is why as a Government, we are taking steps to preserve the history behind the fall of Sambisa Forest and to spectacularly document the roles played by everyone-from the Commander-in-Chief, our service chiefs, commanders of troops and our soldiers. Very soon, the Borno Government will respectfully request for partnership with the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture towards working together to construct a National Museum that we might call Sambisa Fall and International Research Centre, for the purpose of documenting all the de-classified information, to preserve valuable materials recovered by the military in relation to the fight against Boko Haram insurgence and to document history of the crisis from the days of the Taliban to Boko Haram. Importantly also, our aim is to document responses by successive political and military leadership and the eventual fall of Sambisa Forest under the administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari.
“We hope that such a museum will become a global custodian of information and valuable materials on issues relating to the Boko Haram and the role played by the Nigerian Military and Multi-National Forces. We will propose the Museum should have ‘A Hall of Fallen Heroes’ which should bear names and pictures of notable officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, DSS, all paramilitary agencies, the Civilian JTF and hunters who paid the supreme price in helping to free us from the Boko Haram. We will also propose that the museum should have a hall of fame to document the patriotic contribution of leaders like President Muhammadu Buhari, our current service chiefs, past and present military and other security heads and commanders of troops who meritoriously served within and outside the northeast in the fight against the Boko
Haram.
“We will propose that the Museum should have a Memorial Hall that could permanently bear names of notable civilians killed by insurgents. The whole idea is to preserve history so that we keep memories alive, so that we will celebrate our heroes and most importantly, for us and future generation to learn from the unfortunate Boko Haram experience.
“On our part…the Borno State Government will from this year, begin to declare the 22nd December of every year, as Sambisa Memorial Day. This day will be marked as public holiday in Borno State, for the purpose of celebrating the strength and the victory of our armed forces; for the purpose of remembering victims of the Boko Haram insurgency and the families they left behind. And also, for the purpose of remembering members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Volunteers who gave their lives in the curse of fighting the Boko Haram in Borno
State.”
Like the conquest of mount Everest, the occupation of Camp Zero, the headquarters of Boko Haram sect in Sambisa’ Forest by the Nigerian Military is indeed a watershed.
The feat demystified the myth that the sect was unassailable, more so with its well-fortified headquarters. The success reinforced once more the confidence of the people in the Nigerian military as a potential force of reckon and an impregnable fortress. The hope that the liquidation of the sect recently reported as the world deadliest terror group gained currency and the people slept with eyes closed, contrary to hitherto traumatic days of watch and nightmare.
Indeed, Boko Haram has been degraded and decimated, but recent unpalatable events emanating from the sect call for serious concern.
*Izekor, a journalist, public affairs analyst, is a member of the Board of Advisers of The Point.
