Boko Haram: April deadline a charge to new service chiefs, others – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that the remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal AS Badeh, during the handing and taking over ceremony between him and the immediate past CDS on the need to end terrorism by April, this year, was more of a charge to new service chiefs to brace up to the challenge of ending insurgency in the country.
A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said defence headquarters was not unmindful of comments, interpretation and reaction, especially from the media, which necessitated clarification in the interest of the general public and for record purposes.
The statement said: “It is true that the CDS discussed the menace of insurgency/terrorism in parts of the country and the state of emergency. He also implored the Service Chiefs to take every necessary step towards bringing the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the north east to an end.  Accordingly, he declared that April is very crucial in this task, especially as a way of avoiding possible constitutional stalemate.”
“The CDS was not unmindful of the hydra-headed nature of the situation when he made those comments. He was simply being optimistic that given the vigour, zeal and combat readiness of the new Service Chiefs, the Nigerian military must work hard to bring the situation in the north east to an end or sufficiently under control to pave way for normal socio-economic activities in these parts of the country.”
“The Defence Headquarters is concerned about the implications of the varying interpretations and insinuations given to the remarks of the CDS which was essentially directed to the new Service Chiefs. For the avoidance of doubt, the declaration was more of a charge to the new Service Chiefs to brace up to the expediency of sufficiently defeating terrorism and restore normalcy in all parts of the country to avert extension after April.”