Let`s read this news as contained in the Daily Trust of October 29, 2018.
“The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafia Dole provided air support for ground forces to repel a Boko Haram terrorist attack at Gashigar, Borno State. Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement yesterday that the operation was carried out over the night of October 27, and early morning of October 28, 2018, following a report from troops.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform that was on a mission at another location was immediately redirected to Gashigar, he stated.
“He said, in addition, a pair of Mi-35 helicopter gunships was scrambled to the location. He said the NAF ISR platform was joined by another from the Nigerian Air Force and they both were able to identify the location of the terrorists, in 13 gun trucks, as they advanced towards the camp from two different directions.
He said the Boko Haram terrorists were forced to retreat from the camp. Their attempt to regroup at a location outside the camp was also thwarted by the helicopter gunships, with several of them killed or injured in the process”.
Let`s read also another news story on the Daily Trust of September 7, 2018 where Senator Muhamadu Ali Ndume expressed concern over what he called the resurgence and escalation of Boko Haram attacks on military formations and communities in the Northeast. In the words of the Senator while addressing journalists in Maiduguri, “I am worried about the resurgence and escalation of attacks on military formations and communities by Boko Haram, especially within the span of two months, and this should worry the entire country”, the erstwhile senate leader said.
“The military, I think, should concentrate their heavy operations at the black spots of Sambisa, Mandara mountains and the Dikwa/Gamboru axis where the insurgents still seem to be heavily concentrated”, he suggested.
“Military formations should be on permanent alert about any attack, I an not a military man, but I want to believe that if somebody attacks you in your own house, it means that you are not ready”.
What of similar frightening stories from other nooks and crannies of the state pointing to the restlessness and push of the terrorists! In fact, as I was writing this piece I have just been interrupted with another sad news from the (TVC NEWS) that the insurgents have just attacked three villages along Maiduguri-Bama road with several people killed.
This has been the bane of Borno State in particular of recent in the war against the insurgency as the state continue to witness deaths, sorrow and blood-no thanks to the insurgents.
Who is to blame? Is it the military who accused some politicians and elite in the Northeast and Borno State in particular of trying to sabotage the war against insurgency for self ends? Is it the military that was accused by some politicians of frustrating and prolonging the war on terrorism for self-interest of some of its members? Could the blame be laid also at the disposition of some elders of Borno with their “ Siddon look” posture and non committal attitude to the on-going war? The blame game continues as the terrorists are having a field day creating nightmare and despair for the people.
The atmosphere of uncertainty has raised pricking, probing and prodding questions? How come we got ourselves into this mess and state of despair when we were told that the insurgents have been degraded? Why is the heat so much on Borno State, the epicenter of the insurgency, in spite of overwhelmingly population members of the security agencies, especially the military in the state? Who are the sponsors, collaborators and sympathisers of the terrorists that have constituted nightmare to the people? Are there saboteurs or fifth columnists in our midst frustrating the insurgency war? How far have the stakeholders especially the politicians of Borno State jointly come together to address the security challenges of the state? This question become pertinent bearing in mind that in the recent gubernatorial primaries of political parties in the nation, Borno State come out with over twenty aspirants of the All Progressives Party (the ruling party in the state) contesting for the ticket of number one citizen of the state to occupy the Government House. If the stakeholders of Borno and, in particular, the aspirants could in unison come out in such a large number to jointly fight Boko Haram as they did with regards the gubernatorial race, Borno state by now would no doubt have been singing the song of victory of the insurgency instead of its present predicament and uncertainty. Even, the Borno state governor Kashim Shettima has expressed his worries of recent with regards the sudden upsurge of the insurgency. As a matter of fact, the situation has generally moved from that of hope to despair. From confidence building to loss of confidence with this frequency of attacks by the terrorists, Maiduguri, the state capital is not spared. There are reports of farmers killed and disposed of their goods in their farms in the periphery of the state capital. The Biu-Maiduguri trunk a road that links Maiduguri with southern part of the state has become a death trap or a no-go area for now as any journey on this may be that of no return. The situation is becoming a daily harrowing experience of the people at the impunity and man inhumanity to man visited on them by these demons of destruction otherwise designated as terrorists or insurgents. The atrocities occur in recurring decimal fashion and everyone is a moving corpse in spite of the assurances that all is well and Boko Haram has been “technically degraded”.
No doubt, the Nigerian military has paid its dues with regards to fighting this war of insurgency. Thousands members of the armed forces have paid the supreme price in this war and are still doing so. Yes, there might have been some flaws here and there in the operations of the military in this war of terrorism, but these are inconsequential compared to the successes recorded and the price paid by some members of the force.
With the appointment, whether consciously or accidental, of General Mohammed Monguno (rtd) from Borno State as the National Security Adviser, Lt General Tukur Buratai, the Army Chief from Borno as head of the Army and Air Marshall Abubabkar Sadique from Bauchi as the Air Force boss, President Muhammadu Buhari has taken the horse to the river. It is now left for the horse to drink. In ending this insurgency war, these great appointees have an immeasurable role to play.
Besides, there is need for understanding and combined efforts of Borno stakeholder , especially the politicians, bureaucrats, the technocrats, the traditional rulers and the religious leaders to sit together, resolve and chart the way forward for Borno. In short, the Borno State Government, the Borno stakeholders and the military must speak and act in one voice and action to bring Boko Haram sect to its knees. This is the time to act in unison to avoid further surprises from the terrorists who would stop at nothing no matter how deadly to achieve their nefarious end. This is not the time for blame game or buck passing. Let it not be too late to cry. Time to end this war before the war ends us.
Victor Izekor is journalist and public affairs analyst and writes at victorizekor@gmail.com
