Gowon: Military can end insurgency soon

Former Head of State, retired General Yakubu Gowon has expressed confidence that the military will soon defeat the Boko Haram insurgents.

He however said the Federal Government could not have set the December deadline to end the insurgency.

Gowon made the remarks yesterday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State during an advocacy visit to Governor David Umahi on malaria and other tropical diseases.

The former head of state, however said he was confident the military would continue to put in its best to end the insurgency that has claimed many lives.

Gowon who was Nigeria’s leader during the civil war which lasted between 1967 and 1970 had noted that then, the uprising was thought to be concluded with a police operation but lasted 30 months.

"I can tell you this. Nobody can really talk about when any particular operation is going to end. And as a Commander-inChief, I know this. Yes, you can say you target a particular time, but it may finish before that time or it may go slightly beyond…

"I assure you that I have absolute confidence in our military that they are going to really deal with the situation as they are doing at the moment," said the former head of state.

Besides, he expressed concern that the insurgents have resorted to using under-aged and innocent children as suicide bombers to carry out their various operation.

Gowon who appreciated the successes recorded by the previous government under President Goodluck Jonathan in the fight against Boko Haram maintained that President Buhari's administration since it came on board has seen the fight against the sect as paramount in his agenda.

He urged Nigerians to pray fervently saying "prayer is an alternative and the most effective weapon to defeat Boko Haram.”