Prior to 2015 election, I heard as one of the campaign promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the dreaded Boko Haram sect would be defeated and wiped out completely within the first 300 days in office of President Mohammadu Buhari.
On hearing this, many Nigerians especially the North easterners who fled their homes because of the nefarious activities of the sect received assurance. Others comprising traders who journey from other zones in the country viz: Southeast, South/South, West and other geopolitical zones of the country were elated at the promise while some viewed it with ignominy and described it as election promise which would not be fulfilled if finally elected.
More than two years down the lane, we have not seen much progress in the war against insurgency rather what we have seen,read and heard are stories of renewed attacks, ambushes, betrayal among soldiers in the line of duty as well as killings of our gallant soldiers who left their families, wives and children behind to defend their fatherland and prevent the aggressors from taking over territories and unleashing terror.
In addition to the above, we have also heard repeatedly from the APC led government that there is significant success in the fight against insurgency in contrast to the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
But with the growing frustration spate of bombings, attacks on military camps by the insurgents, complaints about delay in payment of allowances of these men, lack of rotation cum posting of officers who have over stayed, betrayal, sabotage of operations, killing of soldiers through ambush by Boko Haram ensuing from use of obsolete equipments that cannot match the ones used by the enemies, disunity that exists among officers and their soldiers e.t.c, we can authoritatively say that the war on insurgency in the northeast is only fought in the media hence far from being won.
How can the Federal government claim to be winning the war when the insurgents still storm communities in Yobe, Adamawa and Maiduguri and unleash mayhem in addition to ceasing military equipments example was few days back when it was reported how the insurgents over ran Megumeri camp 35 kilometers from Maiduguri killing three soldiers, a five year old while six soldiers were wounded just as five civilians were killed by stray bullet in another attack,
It was equally filtered how Adamawa residents are fleeing their homes for fear of being attacked by the sect among other untold stories that Nigerians hear through reliable news sources leaving them wondering why the past administration was hugely criticised for lacking the will power to defeat the Boko Haram sect.
Again, with the way things have panned out since the present administration came on board, it won’t be too assumptive or hasty if Nigerians proclaim that the insurgents are still having a field day as was the case during the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
What haven’t we heard since this administration came on board in relation to the fight against insurgency? seizure of armored tankers, guns, retaking of territories and hoisting of flags, raids on communities in search of food by the terrorists which the past administration was equally blamed for.
It will be wise for the present administration to be reminded that it promised to end insurgency within its first 300 days in office while also using this medium to advise that timely rotation of soldiers who have over stayed in the theatre of war with those who mount road blocks extorting money from motorists outside the northeast and bully civilians who refuse to pay while regular release and payment of allowances to soldiers, sincerity of purpose by the federal government, synergy between the various security agencies involved in the war among other things, is key to winning the war.
