Borno: Heightened tension as B/Haram onslaught intensifies

Boko Haram terrorists have continued to launch series of attacks on towns and villages, killing innocent people and destroying property worth billions of naira despite military’s claims of decimating the sect. Writes SADIQ ABUBAKAR.

 Today, the claim about military’s successes against Boko Haram onslaught and the prevailing situation in the area seems to be in doubt. This is because peace has actually not returned to Borno state and the North-east in general; more so because of the recent serial attacks by the insurgents. 

From the situation reports in Baga town, Mongumo, Cross Kauwa, Gajiram, Magumeri, Damasak, Gubio, Jakana, Benisheikh, Auno, Bama, Buni Yadi, Kala Balge, Buni Gari, Alagarno, Sabarmati, Gamboru Ngala, Dalori, Ahilari Cross, Alau and Badu areas, it is still the same story as residents live in fear while some places are still inaccessible due to the closure of major roads by the military.

This confirms the utterances from many quartets including the governor of the state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum that, “The over one-decade counter insurgency operations against Boko Haram terrorists may not finish on time so soon as expected by both the people and government.”

He also said the terrorists, in recent times, have adopted a strategy of sending drones to monitor and track down military and the multi-national joint task force operations.

 According to him, the terrorists seem to possess better technological weapons of warfare than the military and without the military adopting proper and up-to-date technological edge over them, he noted, that the war would never end soon.

Professor Zulum added that, “This Boko Haram war may not end soon because the terrorists now deploy drones in the military counter insurgency operations areas to monitor their operations.

“They seem to possess better technological weapons of warfare than the military. Without adopting proper and up-to-date technological warfare edge over them, this war will never end,” Zulum said.

 House to intervene – Gbajabiamila

Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the House of Representatives, has however, said the House would, in collaboration with the Senate, ensure that the manpower capacity of the military, especially the army, is enhanced to meet up with the contemporary challenges of fighting the insurgents, among others.

He was speaking in Maiduguri during a one-day solidarity visit to the state.

“The House of Representatives will among other issues consider increasing the numerical strength of security personnel in the North-east to meet up with the personnel challenges.

“Also, the issue of modern and sophisticated equipment and other armouries for the military would be considered to ensure there is adequate security in the region,” he said.

Growing concerns despite assurances

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) State Council has recently called on the federal government and the military to adopt more measures and strategies to bring to an end the insurgency which has caused immeasurable havoc.

The council expressed its dismay over the ceaseless attacks on innocent citizens in towns and villages surrounding Maiduguri metropolis, particularly the recent attacks in Nganzai and Kaga local government areas of the state.

Alhaji Bulama Talba, the state chairman of the union, called on the general public to assist security agencies with timely intelligence on the negative activities of attackers.

“We join well-meaning Nigerians in commending the country’s armed forces for degrading the insurgents’ mode of operation but more strategy and synergy is needed to safeguard returnee communities and IDPs in the liberated areas and camps who in the event of attacks are worst hit by the resurgence of violent attacks on their livelihoods and dignity.

“NUJ reassures its professional support and conduct in ensuring speedy restoration of peace in the state and region as well as other parts of the country. We will continue to work towards quick eradication of the armed conflict in Borno state and the Lake Chad region.

“We also call on the federal government to engage and explore more stakeholders and channels of diplomacy to put a stop to the menace causing one havoc after another.

“We equally call on the aggrieved insurgents to sheathe their swords and embrace the path of reconciliation and dialogue with the Nigerian government to press home their demands against the armed conflict that has inflicted too many injuries, pains and loss of lives in many communities in almost a decade now,” Talba said.

In another development, the United Nations (UN) has claimed that the insurgents have killed over 20,000 civilians in the 10 years of its illegal activities in the region.

The UN said more than eight million people have been displaced with over 80% of them seeking refuge in camps. Some of the displaced persons said things have been difficult for them and they are in dire need of life saving assistance.

The recent attack on a convoy along Maiduguri-Damaturu road is a particular case which raises a lot of eye brows. In a seeming problem whose end seems far away, the attackers were said to have been in a formal conventional military uniform with which they carried out the attack and in many similar attacks which goes to show that they knew about military convoys. In the process, they took away some of their vehicles on the same route. These incidences have sent shivers down the spines of residents.

The military needs to do more – Zanna

According to Zanna Hassan Boguma of Borno, “If soldiers from Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic in the MNJTF will have followed the insurgents to their hideouts and conduct offensive attacks, there is no reason whatsoever for our military to stay in their bases only to repel attacks and always be defensive. There has to be a change in strategy to meet the challenges of insecurity in the region and Nigeria in general.”

While lauding the efforts of the Nigerian Army for their gallantry in repelling attacks by the dreaded Boko Haram in some parts of the state, much, he said, is needed to be done in areas around MMC and Jere were the insurgents were now believed to have been hibernating and in areas of the Lake Chad region.

He however lamented that the recent daring attacks in Nganzai, Bama, Benisheik and Jakana and the incessant and daring attacks by BHTs on the innocent on our high ways is becoming a source of great concern to citizens living in the state.

“We’ve been hearing of successes recorded by battalions outside Maiduguri during the leadership of Generals Lucky Irabor and Nicolas Rochas in their clearance operations in the famous Sambisa forest and other areas where the Boko Haram were having a free reign. 

“But since the change in the mantle of leadership, the story became different with the BHT gaining vigor and more guts in attacking military bases and formations displacing and killing our forces and putting lots of fear in our citizens. The terrorists that were hibernating around the Alau axis and Jere and those in the Lake Chad were allowed to have field day without any pursuit.

“Our armed forces were confined to their bases only to defend themselves without taking the offensive to the enemy resulting in casualties on the part of our forces which greatly demoralised them making many to desert. From our layman’s understanding of counter insurgency, offensive operations should form part of fighting terrorism.

“In most cases, the terrorists were not pursued rather, they  are allowed to go thereby making them more daring to attack and always allowed to go which smack only a mockery of our security. I wish the military high command will copy the counter insurgency measures adopted in Iraq and Syria were the ISIS were fought in collaboration with the help of local militia among the local communities”, Zanna said.

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