The United States yesterday warned President Goodluck Jonathan against the deadly activities of Boko Haram, which has killed about 4,000 this year alone. It also expressed concerned over increasing Boko Haram violence and territorial gains in Nigeria, warning that the deteriorating situation threatened the African giant’s future. This came as senators and members of the House of Representatives are proposing a meeting with the president over the sect’s deadly activities.
US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Linda Thomas- Greenfield, who is on a visit to Nigeria said in Abuja that given its renewed onslaught during which the terrorist group has overrun some towns in Borno and Yobe States, Boko Haram would soon grow into a big monster that the Federal Government would not be able to tame. A report by the Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted Thomas-Greenfield as saying that Boko Haram has now constituted a serious threat to Nigeria.
“We are very troubled by the apparent capture of Bama and the prospects for an attack on and in Maiduguri, which would impose a tremendous toll on the civilian population,” Thomas-Greenfield said. She spoke against the backdrop of the land grab that Boko Haram has done in Bama, Bunu Yadi, Gamboru- Ngala, Banki, Bara and Gwoza towns in Yobe and Borno States. On Monday, the militants reportedly took over Bama, near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, amid denials from the military.
Thomas-Greenfield, who leads Washington’s African Affairs team, told delegates at a bilateral meeting on regional security that the upsurge in violence “constitutes a serious threat” to Nigeria. According to her, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau’s claim that Gwoza was now part of an Islamic caliphate “only adds to the perception that the security situation is steadily worsening.”
“All of these developments are deeply disturbing and increasingly dangerous with each passing day,” she added. In one of the encounters between Boko Haram militants and troops, 480 soldiers had crossed the border into Cameroun, although the military said they had not fled but were conducting “tactical manoeuvres” that crossed the frontier. Thomas-Greenfield said the stakes were high after experts warned that the government risked losing control of the North-East and the violence could spread across borders.
“The reputation of Nigeria’s military is at stake. But more importantly, Nigeria’s and its children’s future is in jeopardy. Failure is not an option,” she stated. The United States was one of a number of countries that sent intelligence and surveillance specialists and equipment to Nigeria to help locate more than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, in Borno States 143 days ago.
Thomas-Greenfield said Washington would soon announce the launch of a major border security programme, which will include Nigeria and its neighbours, Cameroun, Chad and Niger. A top US official said the US was preparing to launch a “major” border security programme for Nigeria and its neighbours to combat the increasing number and scope of attacks by Boko Haram. Yesterday’s warning from Thomas-Greenfield came amid reports that the militants have begun attacking villages in Cameroun.
However, despite the military denial of the situation in Bama, a report yesterday by the BBC said bodies remain littered the streets of the town two days after it was seized by Boko Haram. Senator Ahmed Zanna told the BBC that Boko Haram fighters were patrolling the streets of Bama, preventing people from burying the dead, said. Zanna, who is from the beleaguered town, said the humanitarian situation in Bama was “terrible” and there had been a “lot of killings” in the town.
“So many bodies litter the streets, and people are not allowed to even go and bury the dead ones. So the situation is getting worse and worse,” Zanna told the BBC’s Newsday programme after speaking to a resident who fled the town. He said it would be “catastrophic” if Boko Haram launched an assault on Maiduguri, which has a population of more than two million. “I’m begging the government to send more troops and armoury to Maiduguri,” he stated.
Also yesterday, Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, who cut short his foreign trip to Maiduguri, assured the people that the security situation in the state would soon improve. According to him, the president has promised to send more troops and equipment to the state to fight Boko Haram.
He spoke during a visit to internally displaced people (IDPs) from Bama, who are camped in Maiduguri. He assured the IDPs that the state government will continue to play its role in catering for them, adding that funds have been released to a committee set up by the state government under the chairmanship of Alhaji Usman Jiddah Shuwa to cater for the welfare of the IDPs at the two camps.
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly have resolved to meet with Jonathan to find a lasting solution to the ongoing insurgency ravaging the North-East. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, Senator George Sekibo, told reporters in Abuja that they took the decision at the end of a close-door meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on the progress of the ongoing state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
Sekibo, however, said Nigerians should not despair as the military was winning the war against the insurgents. He said based on the briefing, they would get back to the two chambers and subsequently meet Jonathan on the matter to see if more progress could be made. “We met here from 10.am this time, about 3.pm, that’s about five hours. The purpose is to follow up on the approval of the state of emergency for the third term so that they will brief us on their achievements. We’ve heard several stories from the media, with locals and our colleagues contributing, while the military is reacting.
“We’ve heard stories of towns being captured and our armed forces being withdrawn, that is why we invited the CDS to get first hand information. From this meeting, it’s not as speculated. We have one or two places that the insurgents have a stronghold, but within few days, the Nigerian Armed Forces will take them back,” he said.
Also, Chairman, House committee on Defence, Hon. Bashir Adamu, said there was need to allocate more funds to the military, especially with the security challenges facing the country so that it could tackle insurgency head on. Also yesterday, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Uriel Paltil, said Israeli was helping Nigeria with intelligence to fight Boko Haram. Paltil, who spoke with reporters in Abuja after participating in a media outreach and interactive forum on gifted and talented people, however, did not elaborate on the nature of intelligence his country offered Nigeria in combating insurgency.
Retired military and para-military personnel as well as hunters and vigilante groups have appealed to the Federal government to give them the permission to pursue Boko Haram insurgents to Sambisa and other hideouts with a view to ending the ongoing crisis.
Members of the groups who stormed the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, urged him to talk to Jonathan to give them the go-ahead to pursue the terrorists.
The Coordinator of the rally, Abba Aji Kalli, said they were ready to sacrifice their lives for the restoration of peace in the state and the country. Responding, El-Kanemi urged them to always abide by the rule of law in the course of discharging their civic responsibilities.
No comments:
Post a Comment