FG Backtracks on December Deadline, Says Suicide Bombings May Continue

By Adebiyi Adedapo just back from Maiduguri

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the ongoing military campaign against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east will ensure that all territories hitherto captured by the terrorists are liberated by December 2015, but noted that suicide bombings on soft targets may continue beyond the date.

The minister stated this yesterday in Maiduguri, during a one day official visit to Borno State.
 “What the military can do is only to liberate all our territories from the hold of Boko Haram members, if we think that there will be no more bombings after December, it is not feasible. There might be bombing of soft targets, but we as a government, will ensure that all our territories are liberated from Boko Haram terrorists,” he said.
 

However, Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kassim Shettima, expressed optimism that the on-going reconstruction and resettlement process in all the affected communities in all the 27 local government areas in the state would improve the fortune of the people in the state within a year.
 

Shettima, while receiving the minister at the Government House last Saturday evening, noted that the state witnessed unimaginable destruction from 2009 when the state came under various attack and occupation by the Boko Haram terrorists.
 

“Believe me, the war is over and we are on the part of regeneration, reconstruction and resettlement of our people, so no matter how windy the weather maybe, it won’t rain forever. The Borno sun will start shining once again and very soon. We will do whatever it takes to work for the people, and for us, we have no option than improve on the quality of governance to work for our people, if at all we want to live in this country. Let me be frank with you, we have no option than to put on our thinking caps and do what is right for our people,” he said.
 

The governor added: “There are 27 local government areas in the state. There is none that didn’t witness one attack or the other from 2009 till date. At some point, like you know, no fewer than 20 local government areas were under the occupation of Boko Haram members. During the occupation by insurgents, some of these local government areas were almost raised down to zero.
Residential houses, hospitals, schools, markets, farms were also destroyed.”
 

He explained that the state government had repeatedly rebuilt attacked communities in Goza, Bama, Kaga, Mapa among others, saying the current rebuilding process is the final, since the insurgents have been driven away and communities relatively stabilised.
 

“The state government has continually rebuilt attacked communities in places like Goza, Bama, Kaga, Mapa, and others. We approved and released N1 billion for reconstruction works and support for victims in Konduga, Goza and Bama, only for the reconstructed areas to be raised down shortly thereafter,” he stated.
 

The minister, while explaining the purpose of his visit, said it was important in order to offer Nigerians a first-hand information about the successes and challenges of the military operations in the North-east region, adding that the massive increase in the number of resettlement camps indicates huge success in the operation.
 He hinted that the government would launch a national security awareness campaign to inculcate the spirit of self-security in every Nigerians, saying the role of civilians in sustaining the peace achieved by the military operation cannot be over emphasised.