We must address the root causes of insurgency, N/East governors tell Buhari
By our reporter
Aug. 10, 2020 – Some governors from the North-Eastern States in the country in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja reiterated the need to address the root causes of the insurgency in region.
The governors said addressing the root causes of the insurgency was important as they raised alarm of more people being recruited into the terrorist groups.
They also warned of the consequences of a “War Economy” and the need to address the root causes of the insurgency.
According to the governors, a large population in the region, especially in Borno State, have no access to their homes and farmlands.
They, therefore, called for efforts to curtail the “increasing trust deficit between the population and the armed forces.
President Muhammadu Buhari said as part of efforts to defeat the terrorists and restoring peace in the region and cross the country, the Federal Government is acquiring modern military equipment
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Buhari reassured the governors that security will be restored in the North-east following the recent adoption of new strategies.
President Buhari said: “Things will improve very soon. We are acquiring modern equipment; some are here, some are being cleared, and others still coming.
“We need patience with acquisition of equipment. You need to train the trainers for their usage ahead of their deployment to the field.
“I have listened to your presentation. I assure you, the Northeast Governors, especially that of Borno, that we go to bed and wake up thinking about you, how to secure our country, that is the responsibility of every government.
“Our party campaigned in 2015 on three major objectives, among which is Security. We said the same thing in 2019 and Nigerians believed us.
“We are doing our best and we will continue to do even better,” Buhari said.
President Buhari also noted with concern the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, making scarce resources even scarcer, coupled with its severe impact on the supply chain of military equipment and spare parts.
“Our government is doing its best on the question of equipment and the military know.
“We have equipment coming from some countries. The acquisition of military wares and spares is not easy, especially if you are not the manufacturer,” he added.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, gave an assessment of the current efforts, stressing that Boko Haram terrorists had been flushed out of all the states in the region, leaving Borno State as the last stop.
He said: “There are no Boko Haram terrorists in neighboring states. They have been pushed out, and now cornered in Borno State.
“We are coordinating with civil and traditional authorities, mobilising and reinforcing and all we need is patience. We will not relent.”
On his part, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, briefed the meeting on the acquisition of military aircraft, stressing that the imminent arrival of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), known as drones, with more than 10 hours of flying time, would strongly reinforce the battle front.
Briefs were also received on equipment needs of the police as well as the changing alliances between criminal gangs and terrorist groups in the region from the Intelligence Community.