Buhari signals possibility of extending December deadline to end insurgency

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that the December 2015 deadline he earlier gave to the military to end insurgency in the country was just a guide, signalling that, the time frame, remaining few days, could be pushed further.

Buhari said this Monday in Dutse, Jigawa State, while declaring open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference 2015, tagged: “Contemporary Conflicts, Human Rights and Military Operations.”

“… let me emphasise that the time frame given, should serve as a guide and if exigencies of multiple operations across the Country advises a modification, the Federal Government will not hesitate to do so in order to address new flash points that are rearing their ugly heads in some parts of the country,” Buhari, represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gabriel Olonisakin, said.

The President commended the Nigerian Army’s efforts to ensure that his directive to rout Boko Haram terrorists by the end of the year was met as he clarified that the time frame was just a guide, which maybe affected by some prevailing and emerging security realities beyond the North Eastern part of the country.

“Going by the achievements of the new leadership of the Nigerian Army in the last few months, I am delighted to observe that the reform process within the Nigerian Army has not only greatly enhanced service discipline, functional capacity and operational readiness; its has also properly positioned the Service for its role as a critical stakeholder in our nation’s quest for peace, stability, sustained growth and development.

“Despite these achievements, the threat of terrorism in some parts of the country remains an issue of serious national security concern, with the potential to impede our change drive. The recent achievements by the security agencies in the fight to defeat terrorism underscore my earlier position that the extremists threat will soon be a thing of the past.”

“This clearly shows that the Nigerian Army has been working assiduously to implement and carry out my directive to rout the insurgents by the end of this year.”

Buhari urged the Nigerian Army to intensify its current efforts and develop new strategies that will address the current security challenges facing the country “and ensure total eradication of the insurgents.”

But, Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, vowed that the Nigerian Army in collaboration with other security agencies would crush the Boko Haram terrorists by the December deadline.

Buratai said that the Army has taken the battle to the terrorists remaining enclave in Sambisa forest, blocking their access in and out of the area.

“The immediate challenge facing the Nigerian Army is the realisation of Mr. President’s directive to terminate the Boko Haram insurgency not later than this month, December 2015. In response to this directive, the Nigerian Army has in conjunction with sister Services and other security agencies, taken the fight to the insurgent’s enclave.

“I issued directives for clearance operations in Sambisa forest. Troops were deployed not only to block all access in and out of Sambisa forest but to also identify and destroy the insurgents’ camps. Formations’ and units’ headquarters were also relocated closer to action points in order to tighten the noose round the insurgents and deny them freedom of action. In-theatre training for troops has been sustained to enhance their combat efficiency,” he said.

At the annual event, Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, commended the “apolitical posture” of the Army, adding that the new Army leadership has brought a “paradigm shift that has helped in turning the tide against Boko Haram”.

“We are hopeful that the deadline given by the President will be met under your leadership.  We will support you and want to know that this state is a frontline state in the fight against Insurgency owing to its proximity to Yobe and Bauchi states yet my state has no army unit. We want to use this opportunity to establish an Army unit and will provide a portion of land for that purpose,” he said.