Why fight against Boko Haram not yielding results – Deby
By Bode Olagoke and Abdullahi M. Gulloma, Abuja
The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday held a closed door meeting with Chadian President Idriss Deby, specifically on how to put an end to the problem of Boko Haram confronting the two countries.
Deby, who said he was on a congratulatory visit to the president-elect, told journalists shortly after the meeting that both countries were considering how to bring about peace, stability and security in the sub-region with the core issue of Boko Haram.
The president, who spoke through an interpreter, said: “Chad and Nigeria are facing the same challenges and how to meet the expectations of the people. Both countries are members of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the two countries, together with other members, are considering how to bring about peace, stability and security in the sub-region with the core issue of Boko Haram which is being handled by the two countries.
“On the issues of common interest, we will foresee this issue together and to have a joint action to handle the issue of Boko Haram and they will overcome it and, by the grace of God, peace and security will prevail in the su-region.”
Also speaking, Buhari said his government would sit down with neighbouring nations and come up with a comprehensive review of the security situation in the North-east and how it affects Nigeria.
He said: “We know how Chad, Niger and Cameroon have been helping Nigeria to secure our borders and you know how this helps in commerce and industry. Due to the insurgency attacks, some of the bridges were blown up while infrastructures were destroyed.
“These were some of the things that we discussed and God’s willing we will sit down and make sure we have a comprehensive review of the security situation in the north-east and how it affects the country.”
Meanwhile, President Deby has attributed the slow pace of the fight against Boko Haram to the inability of Nigerian soldiers and their Chadian counterparts to form a common front.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting with President Jonathan, Deby said the two armies were working separately in the battle field.
“It’s regrettable that the two armies, that is the Nigerian army and the Chadian Army, are working separately in the field,” he said. “They are not undertaking joint operation. If they were operating joint operation probably they would have achieved more results.
“Still on the issue of Boko Haram, in the Lake Chad Basin there are four countries: Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger? that are currently securing the area.
The four countries have managed to form a multinational mixed force that will metamorphose to what is probably known as a Rapid Response Force that the African Union is trying to form for Africa.”
The Chadian leader also dismissed media reports that he was aware of the whereabouts of the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, saying, “I cannot tell you today that I know where Shekau is hiding ?and even if I knew, I won’t tell you.”
On his mission to Nigeria, Deby said: “I came to consult with my brother, President Goodluck Jonathan.
As you all know, Nigeria and Chad are two countries that have a lot of similarities in fighting insurgents. Chad has had its own problems in the 70s and 80s and Nigeria assisted Chad during those difficult times.”
He said he came to also congratulate Jonathan for the statesmanship he demonstrated during the just concluded general elections.
He said: “We all know that elections in Africa are always contested but Mr. President demonstrated a lot of statesmanship, that he is a real democrat by conceding and congratulating the President-elect.
“You all know ?that when Nigeria sneezes, neighbouring countries catch cold. If Mr. President had not taken that laudable initiative, you all know what would have happened now.
“Nigeria is still living in peace, you all are living in peace and that would not have happened but for that laudable initiative he took.”
