Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

“I wonder how Boko Haram sur­vives up to this end. As the Com­mander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I campaigned in 2015 and last year on three fundamental issues, which include security – you cannot preside over an institution or a country if it is not secure” – President Muham­madu Buhari, February 13, 2020


Many Nigerians were full of praises for President Idriss Deby of Chad for living up to his title as Commander-in – Chief of the Chadian Armed Forces a few days ago when he led the on­slaught against Boko Haram in­surgents. After recording huge success in which over 100 Boko Haram insurgents were killed, Deby also issued a warning to the sect’s factional leader, Abu­bakar Shekau, asking him to surrender or risk being killed in his Dikoa hideout.

Following a seven-hour am­bush on Chadian troops by the terrorists that left 92 soldiers dead recently, Deby, who said he would not accept defeat, launched “Operation Wrath of Bomo” to avenge the death of his men.

Named after the town where the Chadian soldiers were killed, the operation, which commenced on Thursday, saw the president leading his armed forces to battle at Kelkoua bank and Magumeri where they fired rockets and 12.5mm rounds ammunition on the criminals. The troops were said to have also destroyed several Boko Ha­ram troops bunkers, recovered cache of arms and arrested a top Boko Haram commander.

At Magumeri, a local govern­ment in the northern Borno State, the Chadian troops were alleged to have set free some Nigerian soldiers held captive by terrorists.

Deby’s action was in sharp contrast to the tactics employed by President Buhari in prose­cuting the war against the in­surgents. Though he started well when he assumed office in 2015 after directing Service Chiefs to relocate to Maidugu­ri, the theatre of war, Buhari’s war against insurgency in re­cent times seemed to have lost steam. Though the government will always say Boko Haram has been technically defeated, the sect has become more daring, carrying out deadly attacks on towns and villages in the North- East, with many military and civilian casualties.

The situation got so bad that when President Buhari visited Maiduguri, the Borno State cap­ital, in February to sympathise with the people over the killing of at least 30 persons by terror­ists in the town of Auno, the in­surgents visited the town and killed several people shortly after his departure.

Shekau later appeared in a video threatening to attack President Buhari if he visits Maiduguri, Borno State, again.

“Buhari came to Maiduguri pretending to be a good man but he is not. He shouldn’t try to return to Maiduguri again. Buhari, fear your Creator. God said you don’t have up to a spi­der’s web. But you think you are a major general. l swear, you are nothing. Buhari, I am talking to you, you’ll know no peace. Don’t come back to Maiduguri.

“Just go and sit down and think over my comments. And if you think I am the one dis­rupting your affairs, honestly I am not. You have deceived the people by telling them you are a just leader; carry on!” the sect’s leader said.

While Nigerians do not ex­pect Buhari to personally lead the war against the insurgents, many public affairs analysts have argued that the President should change his strategy if Nigeria must witness improved success in the war.

Part of the strategy is the re­placement of Service Chiefs, ad­equate funding of the military and ordering Service Chiefs to be at the battlefield like Deby, instead of coordinating affairs from Abuja.

From all indications, Presi­dent Buhari seems to have tak­en a cue from his Chadian coun­terpart as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has relocated fully to the North East where he is overseeing and directing the overall operations in the theatre and other Nigeri­an Army operations across the country.

This was disclosed in a state­ment signed by the Acting Di­rector, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa.

According to the statement, Buratai, while addressing troops of the Special Super Camp Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State on the 9th April, assured them that he would be with them in the nooks and crannies of the theatre.

Prior to his relocation, the COAS had been on operational tour to troops’ locations in the North East Theatre of Opera­tion since Saturday the 4th of April.

During the tour, he was at the Army Super Camp 1 at Mu­lai and the Special Forces Su­per Camp 12 at Chabbol near Maiduguri on April 8 where he interacted with the officers and addressed the troops respective­ly.

The COAS was also at the Forward Operations Base at Alau Dam, and also personally led the troops on patrol round Mairimari and Maigilari For­ests.

Meanwhile, the Army has assured Nigerians that it is committed to protecting all law-abiding citizens and defend­ing the territorial integrity of the nation.

Speaking during a special Easter celebration with the troops on Monday at Ngamdu Special Super Camp, Buratai regretted that the insurgency has lasted for too long and gave assurances that in no time the Boko Haram elements will be defeated.

“You may wonder that this counter-insurgency operation has lingered for too long, we all know globally that count­er-terrorism is very complex. There are some countries that have fought counter-terrorism for close to 50 years. But we’re not going to leave it, we will not leave this camp.

“We are here, we will not leave this camp until we sub­stantially degrade these crim­inals. God willing, we shall be there with you no going back once we commence. We will be with you in the valleys, on the hill, in the jungle, in the river and so on”.

“As I speak now, we have some element that are providing us necessary intelligence and once we start, no going back. We are here and we make sure that we get ourselves properly moti­vated, properly equipped and I assure you will have the best of time.

“Some of you have been here before like two three times but I tell you, we are going to have the best of time. We want the best out of you.

We need your courage and de­termination. I want you to have at the back of your minds that Mr. President solidly behind you. We have already started getting the consignment of what we require for us to han­dle these insurgency and terror­ism. It a matter of time and a very short time”.

Speaking in a chat with Daily Independent, Junaid Moham­med, an elder statesman and Second Republic House of Rep­resentatives member, said aside providing the needed political leadership, President Buhari must also go after Boko Haram sponsors and deal with them in accordance with the laws of the land.

“I believe that what Buhari is expected to do but which in the views of most Nigerians he has failed to do is to provide political, economic and other kinds of leadership qualities and make sure that the country is secure internally and ensure that the people who are behind Boko Haram are exposed and are dealt with appropriately. I don’t think that has happened.

“It is clear that in fighting Boko Haram, we are not just fighting the men who are in­volved physically in the organ­isation, we are also dealing with some people who, for obvious reasons don’t mean well for our country. These ones will rather blackmail the government into making some kind of conces­sions that no Nigerian leader can make and survive. As far as I am concerned, that is the sit­uation we find ourselves right now.”
https://www.independent.ng/boko-haram-how-chadian-president-woke-buhari-from-slumber/

All kudus to the Chadian President the motivator of pa Buhari and Buratai the social media general!!

Who told you the old man is awake?

They're going to fight nobody just a face saving move.

[Hunger is biting my children
Pls help out
3142754536
First bank

hmmm...are you sure you are married talkless of having children?

AbuEzeFemi:
[Hunger is biting my children
Pls help out
3142754536
First bank

I hope Buratai won't return to Abuja after two weeks?

what about the other Service Chiefs< especilly Chief of Air ?

Ashabbiiee:
I hope Buratai won't return to Abuja after two weeks?

That's how dumb Nigeria and its leaders can be, you are propagating a war in the NORTH EAST for over 10 years, rather than moving to the epicenter of the theater of war in BORNO STATE, the army chiefs sits in Abuja and directing the WAR,Chad president had taught BUHARI and his service chief JOKERS that to get results u have to be on the battle field, same applies to BUHARI,S ineptitude in governance, he sits there in ASO rock and expects his ministers to deliver without paying them surprise visit on their job positions. GOD BLESS IDRIS
DERBY for showing the lead and good example

Ok

Buhari is old. There is no way he can perform like Deby of Chad

F117nighthawk:
That's how dumb Nigeria and its leaders can be, you are propagating a war in the NORTH EAST for over 10 years, rather than moving to the epicenter of the theater of war in BORNO STATE, the army chiefs sits in Abuja and directing the WAR,Chad president had taught BUHARI and his service chief JOKERS that to get results u have to be on the battle field, same applies to BUHARI,S ineptitude in governance, he sits there in ASO rock and expects his ministers to deliver without paying them surprise visit on their job positions. GOD BLESS IDRIS
DERBY for showing the lead and good example

The initial counter-response by Chad was a quick, decisive and ruthless offensive devoid of ethno-political /religious bickering, administrative red tape, corruption, leadership ineptitude, inadequate military hardware and intelligence, low troop morale, all malaises that have characterised our handling of the Boko Haram issue.

The Chadians didn’t wait forever to “study the situation,” or set up a “fact-finding committee,” as Nigerians officials are wont to do. Again, this was just one quick, daring sucker punch on Boko Haram with clear and decisive results.

Nigerian government is simply in love & league with BH otherwise it should never ever contemplate giving them ransome, granting them amnesty or scholarship.A terrorist can never fight terrorism.What rubbish

nairavsdollars:
Buhari is old. There is no way he can perform like Deby of Chad

A terrorist can not fight terrorism.

truth, he once said attack on Boko Haram is attack on Islam

Racoon:
A terrorist can not fight terrorism.

Well done General Buratai