BOKO HARAM: We have the will, resources, strategies to win the war – FG

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, Wednesday declared that the Nigerian government has the will, resources and strategies to combat and come out tops in the continued war against militant Islamist group, Boko Haram.

The minister said this while delivering a message on behalf of the government to the women and youths who staged a protest against Boko Haram and terrorism at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, to mark the 100 days of the abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. Participants in the protest included several non-governmental organisations and groups, such as Kasuwa da Kasuwa, the National Council of Women Societies, Gender Support for Women Emancipation Development, Lady Chy New World Order Foundation, Concerned Mothers Association of Nigeria and Hausa Community, National Association of Nigerian Students and others. Akinjide revealed that the Federal Government has procured new equipment and technology towards strengthening the capability and support for Nigerian military and security forces. She added that the military equipment included highly sophisticated fighter helicopters with in-built night vision technology. The minister also added that the Federal Government had a clear edge in weapons and reconnaissance capabilities, noting that the major breakthroughs recorded by the Nigerian military in the war against terrorism included the capturing of many senior level Boko Haram commanders, who were used as spies and treasury officials by the Nigerian military and security operatives. She listed the achievements to include the arrest of Sadiq Ogwuche, one of the masterminds of the April 14, 2014 bombing of Nyanya motor park, among others.

Akinjide further told the women and youths that a recent Boko Haram threat against the Abuja Transportation System was uncovered, just as the public was alerted to the casualties avoided. Also following a tip-off, the Nigeria Police uncovered and prevented a bomb attack near a school in Gombe, the capital of Gombe State, she explained. She said, “The government recognises that soft power is crucial in the battle against Boko Haram, and we know that force alone will not defeat insurgency. As a result, the Jonathan administration is implementing a comprehensive programme of assistance to support, protect and empower local communities with a special focus on the most vulnerable areas of the country.” The minister listed the initiatives in this respect to include the Safe Schools Initiative, developed to safeguard school children in states under emergency rule, by strengthening the security of educational facilities. She added that the government was working with state governors, community leaders, teachers and parents to identify and remedy the vulnerabilities that put Nigerian children at risk. On the role of diplomacy, she said the Federal Government had been able to garner support from international partners, including governments and groups, particularly the International BringBackOurGirls campaign that had successfully motivated global attention to terror in our region. Olajumoke explained that President Goodluck Jonathan had initiated a number of strategies, which she said had generated international solidarity, such as a meeting of Presidents of Chad, Cameroun, Niger Republic and Benin Republic, which was held in Paris.