Boko Haram: The Truth That Must Be Told

The abduction of 110 girls at Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, by Boko Haram on February 19, again brings to the fore, the hypocrisy, ineptitude and corruption dominating the war against the terrorists in the last 33 months of the Buhari administration. The peak of this recklessness was the wild celebration of a fantasy victory over the terrorists in December 2016. A former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, was right when he said that the Nigerian government had not been transparent about Boko Haram war and that the terror group still had the capacity to operate freely in the country. Writing on the platform of the Council on Foreign Relations, a US think tank, Campbell said: “The latest Boko Haram kidnapping of female students sheds some light on the terrorist group’s current operational capacity… More disturbing is Boko Haram’s use of armored vehicles, its access to uniforms, and its ability to carry out mass kidnappings…Dapchi is yet another sign that Boko Haram is far from defeated. As for the three hundred Chibok schoolgirls, about one hundred still remain in captivity.”

Evidently, this government is stupidly running away from the fact that this sagging war has claimed thousands of innocent lives in the last 33 months and that the terrorists are still roaming unhindered in many communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. The fact is that Boko Haram still holds territories and control at least three local governments in Borno State, from where they launch attacks on soft and hard targets. The attack in Rann, headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State on Thursday night, during which several persons were feared killed, including three aid workers of local and international organisations, is also a pointer to this fact. Our gallant soldiers are willing to fight, but they are ill-equipped and ill-motivated. Last year, Army Chief, Tukur Buratai, confirmed that troops on the war front had not been paid operational allowances for three months. So, where is the inspiration to fight Boko Haram? Where is the high-tech equipment to tame the terrorists? This is why Boko Haram strolls into military formations and kill soldiers with ease. Frustration is visibly escalating among our gallant soldiers.

The Buhari administration must show sincerity in this war against Boko Haram by first sacking Buratai and other service chiefs. He must retire those in the top hierarchy of this war and appoint fresh hands, so that we can have fresh ideas. The managers of this war have failed these soldiers. Our war commanders have become businessmen. This is why this country has been losing grounds to Boko Haram. I was shocked by Buhari’s approval of a provocative tenure extension (unusual 3rdterm) for the service chiefs. These same service chiefs that have failed our gallant soldiers were rewarded for failure. This is preposterous. No wonder our President is persistently shifting Boko Haram blame and responsibility from his government.

Another drawback to this war is that this government has been carelessly providing ammunition to the terrorists in form of ransom for the release of captives. The story in town is that it paid millions of USD for the release of Chibok girls and the oil workers abducted in Magumeri. No agent of this administration has punctured holes in this accusation. Terror groups all over the world need cash to sustain their reign of horror. Responsible governments strive to cut supply of cash to terror groups but the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

Additional challenge Nigeria is facing in this war against Boko Haram is that most of those managing the war don’t want it to end. These heartless people are profiting immensely from the blood of our gallant soldiers and that of innocent Nigerians. This is why soldiers on the war front are cruelly denied operation allowances, illequipped and ill-motivated. As long as the war is on, there will be more money for these coldblooded war managers. This is the truth that must be told about this war.

Tales from the war front in the last 33 months are still not palatable. The terrorists are everywhere and moving around freely in the North-east. Nigerians won’t forget the attack on a military post in Sasawa (Yobe State), during which 18 soldiers were killed. What about the attack in Magumeri town, Borno State, during which the military outpost in the town was sacked? The terrorists overpowered the soldiers, with most of them fleeing. What about the killing of 69 oil explorers and soldiers in Borno State? What about the terrorists boldly showing the video of the 14 women abducted in Dalwa? What about the persistent humiliation of our soldiers in Gashigha, Abadam, Mainok and Malam Fatori? What about the persistent killings in Konduga and Dalori IDP camp? The University of Maiduguri has been repeatedly attacked, resulting in the death of innocent people, including a professor of veterinary medicine, Aliyu Usman Mani. Never in the history of this institution has this much pain been inflicted on its staff and students. This horrific list is endless.

I have persistently clamoured for the return of mercenaries. We all saw their impact when they were briefly used by the Jonathan administration. Buhari came and unwisely sacked them. This country must employ the best fighters from anywhere in the world to end this trauma called Boko Haram. The ultimate aim is to genuinely decapitate Boko Haram. Buhari should use his $1 billion war chest to hire the best mercenaries from Israel, South Africa and Russia. These mercenaries are ready to storm the North-east with highly sophisticated war manpower and war machines. Any leader that is genuinely interested in ending the Boko Haram madness must look in this direction. If our President is patriotic enough to take this decision, within few months, Boko Haram will become history.