Muhammadu Buhari
• Nigerian to head MNJTF till Boko Haram's defeat • To offset $100 million pledge to troops
• Military Requirements to be transmitted to G-7 soon • Terrorists kill 43 in Borno villages
• Military Requirements to be transmitted to G-7 soon • Terrorists kill 43 in Borno villages
Determined to work out practical ways to completely rout and terminate the activities of the terrorist gang, Boko Haram, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday called for strategic ways of limiting the access of the terrorists to funds, weapons, food, just as he advocated the strengthening of cross border patrols, as well as increase in capacity to gather and share intelligence.
Consequently, the president has directed that all necessary steps be immediately taken to re-invigorate the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU), just as he insisted that a Nigerian be made the head of the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) until the scourge of Boko Haram terrorism is markedly terminated.
But this avowal coincided with yet another attack by the insurgents resulting in the killing of 43 persons in some three Borno villages.
Buhari expressed his determination in his welcome address at the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission held at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Buhari said: "Our Ministers of Defence have proposed modalities for the operations of the MNJTF. I want to commend them for the painstaking effort and the outcomes of their deliberations, which they have presented to us for our consideration and approval.
"While I agree that this is a joint operation with shared responsibilities, I am, however, of the opinion that military operations that are subjected to a rapid turnover of command and control structures, six months duration, as it is being proposed in the documents before us, do not augur well for effectiveness and efficiency.
"Such a process will undermine, even if it is not intended, the military capacity to sustain the push against the insurgents, who also have the uncanny ability to adapt and re-jig their operational strategies.
"I am inclined, on account of the above, to suggest for Your Excellencies’ consideration that Nigeria retains the position of the Force Commander of the MNJTF for the period of the war effort. This command will be to the effectiveness of military strategy, since Nigeria will be providing the bulk of the troops and the main theatre of the war is on Nigerian soil.
"Permit me, at this juncture, to recall that Nigeria has already pledged the sum of one hundred million ($100,000,000) USD for the smooth take off of the MNJTF. I hereby reassure you that my government will keep faith with this promise.
"Notwithstanding this pledge by my government, funding still remains a major issue of this campaign. I had raised this issue at my meeting with the G7 leaders, while I am encouraged by their support, I also urge you to garner the support of your international friends and partners to sustain this campaign."
The president stressed that the campaign against Boko Haram must be seen within the wider context of the global war against terror.
According to him, terrorism has no frontiers and they must, because of the great implication for regional and global peace and security, be defeated.
"I want to place on record and express my profound gratitude to Your Excellencies, and to the governments and peoples of the Member States of the LCBC and Benin for your unrelenting support in our campaign against insurgency and terrorism.
"Let me, once again, convey the condolences of the Nigerian people to the families of our fallen war heroes who have been left to mourn their loved ones. We fervently pray that this war will soon come to an end and that the much needed peace and security and progress will be ushered into our sub region.
"I thank you for honouring Nigeria with your august presence and wish us very fruitful deliberation. I am confident that our deliberation will be undertaken against the backdrop of our common resolve to defeat insurgency and also the historic, fraternal, ethnic ties that unite and bind us together," Buhari added.
He expressed the gratitude of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria to the commission for the unwavering support in the campaign against the Boko haram insurgents.
The president however regretted the loss of gallant soldiers who have fallen in the battle, as well as numerous civilians who had died in the cruel hands of the insurgents.
"Nigeria will forever cherish the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in order that we may be free from the strangle hold of purveyors of hate and extremism. Please accept, Your Excellencies, the appreciation of a grateful nation.
"Nothing has emphasised our common humanity and destinies more than the dastardly crimes against our people by the insurgents, who have maimed and raped our women and children and held our nations in a vicious strangle hold" Buhari noted.
Understandably, President Buhari’s speech formed the fulcrum of the communiqué at the end of the summit.
The Heads of State and Government of LCBC and Benin further agreed on the need to support military operations with an emergency development plan in favour of vulnerable populations in the region in order to fight against the root causes of insecurity relating to poverty.
The commission also approved the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Strategic and Operational and related documents of the MNJTF for the fight against Boko Haram terrorist group.
It also approved the immediate deployment of the MNJTF HQ at N’Djamena (Chad) by implementing its human, logistic and financial requirements;
The summit further approved the deployment of the national contingents to the MNJTF under the operational command of the MNJTF Commander assisted by his Joint Headquarters by 30th July 2015.
Other highlights of the approvals by the summit include the funding of the sum of Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000.000) USD for the installation and equipping of the MNJTF HQ.
*the establishment of the Executive Secretariat as the Headquarters of the Mission and the Executive Secretary of LCBC being the Head of Mission.
*the nomination of the 3 key post of responsibility of the MNJTF HQs as follows:
i. Force Commander: Nigeria (Until the end of the mission)
Ii. Deputy Force Commander: Cameroun (Rotational every 12 Months)
iii. Chief of Staff: Tchad (Rotational every 12 months)
The Summit also agreed to requests the African Union’s support to the MNJTF in its operations, logistics and general mission support; by mobilizing financial support.
It also resolved to seek the support of strategic partners, notably European Union, France, United Kingdom and United States of America in favour of the MNJTF.
The Commission will also request the President of the UN Security Council to make a declarative statement in support of MNJTF Operations against the Boko Haram terrorist group, just as it dopted the Emergency Plan for Development in the Lake Chad Basin.
Those present at the meeting were Presidents of the Republic of Niger, Issoufou Muhammadu, Idriss Deby Itno of the Republic of Chad, Boni Yayi of the Republic of Benin, Paul Biya President of the Republic of Cameroun was represented by Mebe Ngo’o Edgard Alain the country's Minister of Defence, Ministers of Defence of Niger, Chad, Benin, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Engr Sanusi Imran Abdullahi.
Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday also disclosed that Nigeria's security agencies had commenced the compilation of comprehensive logistic needs to tackle Boko Haram insurgency, which is to be transmitted to t G-7.
The president disclosed this while speaking with journalists at the end of the Extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government of LCBC member countries and Republic of Benin at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He said he had already intimated other members of the commission during the meeting to also make available their own lists.
He had presented the nation’s wish list to the world leaders at the G-7 meeting that held in Germany last Monday.
The need to receive support in the fight against terrorism is one of the cardinal demands of President Buhari to the world leaders.
According to Buhari, the final list to be forwarded to G-7, will be decided after the African Union (AU) meeting in South Africa.
"I am sure you will recall that I was personally invited to the G-7 meeting. I went there and I was asked to brief the G-7 and I was impressed with the tremendous sympathy they have for this sub-region, Lake Chad Basin Commission. All of them from President Obama and the rest, are willing to help us.
"And they have actually asked me to discuss with their Chief Defence Staff or their ministries of defence or talk to them directly what we need.
"So, I brought this case to our meeting here and I told them that Nigeria has gone quite far. I had five hours meeting with my service chiefs and I asked them to produce comprehensive logistic requirements.
"I also advised my colleagues to be prepared to produce their logistic requirement so that after AU meeting, we will agree on what to send to the head of G-7, President of Germany. They are very anxious to help us, especially when Boko Haram declared their loyalty to ISIS and you know what ISIS is doing to the world" the president said.
He added that the rules of engagement among the troops of the member states had been clearly spelt out.
And to ensure that rthe rules of engagement are being observed, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah, recently embarked on an operational and morale boosting visit to troops in the frontline fighting the war against Boko Haram in Borno and Adamawa States.
This is contained in a statement signed yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman.
According to Usman, Minimah visited the operational areas on Wednesday June 10, during which he addressed and encouraged the troops of 7 Division Strike Group (7 DSG) and 121 Special Force (SF) Battalion that comprised the Armed Forces and Nigerian Army Special Forces located in Pulka,
He said that the Army Chief also addressed troops of 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, 28 Task Force Brigade and 174 Battalion in Mubi.
In Pulka, he said, the Commander, 7 DSG, Lt-Col. Umar Faruq Abubakar and the Commanding Officer of 121 SF Battalion, Lt-Col Murtala Danjuma Abdulsalam briefed him on their respective commands.
The COAS commended them for their performances, and thereafter addressed the troops wherein he said that he came to thank and commend them for their valour, courage and bravery, which turned the tide against the Boko Haram terrorists.
He informed the troops that the president and indeed the whole nation are proud of them. He reiterated his determined effort to continue to support and encourage them and enjoined them to maintain the momentum.
Minimiah also urged the gallant soldiers to remain disciplined, professional and continue with the same zeal and determination till attainment of the set objective of locating and destroying Boko Haram camps and enclaves.
He said: "The exploits of these troops are quite numerous; apart from recapturing most Boko Haram terrorist held territories such as Pulka and Gwoza, they were able to destroy quite a number of the terrorists’ camps in Kirawa and Kinene, as well as their workshops, training camps and arms stores, weapons and equipment.
"They also recovered a T-55 Battle Tank, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers, various calibres of arms and ammunitions from the Boko Haram".
Minimah also visited the troops of Brigade Garrison, elements of 82 Battalion, 121 Special Force Battalion and 122 Special Battalion But as if determined to wreak more havoc and prove its destructive capacity, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram killed at least 43 people and burnt down three villages in northeast Nigeria, residents told AFP yesterday, the latest in an upsurge of attacks by the Islamist militants.
Dozens of rebels on motorcycles stormed Matangale, Buraltima and Dirmanti in restive Borno state on Tuesday, opening fire on villagers before looting and burning homes, fleeing residents said.
News of the assault was slow to emerge due to poor communication in the region after Boko Haram destroyed telecoms masts in previous attacks.
"They came around 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) on 20 motorcycles, three gunmen on each, and attacked Matangale before proceeding to Buraltima and Dirmanti," said resident Dala Tungushe.
"They killed 43 people and burnt all the houses in the three villages after looting food supplies," Tungushe, who fled Matangale to Biu, some 90 kilometres (56 miles) away.
Matangale was worst hit by the attack as the attackers opened fire at an open well outside the village where residents had gathered to fetch drinking water and do their laundry.
"The Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on the crowd at the well where they killed around 16 people," said Bulama Karuye, another resident.
"In all, we lost 43 people in the attacks. All the three villages were completely burnt."
He added the number of casualties could have been much higher had some of the villagers not been away at a weekly market around 40 kilometres away.
Hundreds of residents of the affected villages, particularly women and children, fled to nearby Damboa town where they had sought refuge in a primary school, both Tungushe and Karuye said.
They said the attackers came from nearby Sambisa Forest, a major Boko Haram stronghold from where hundreds of women and children kidnapped by the militants were rescued during recent military operations.
Troops and local hunters from Damboa pursued the fleeing attackers into the bush and a gunfight erupted.
"The soldiers and the hunters brought back a pickup truck and some motorcycles they recovered from the Boko Haram attackers... but we don't know how many of the gunmen they killed," Tungushe said.
More than 150 people have been killed by Boko Haram since President Muhammadu Buhari took power on May 29, vowing to crush the militants and end their bloody six-year insurgency.
Culled from Thisday
No comments:
Post a Comment