Lt. Gen.Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd) and erstwhile Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, has said that intelligence gathering, military/civilian synergy and information supply are factors crucial to ending Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
The general, who stormed Moremi Hall of Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday with his retinue of aides; including Major R Yusuf, former Super Eagles Left Winger, Folorunsho Okenla, and Femi Oyewole, for the book Launch on Boko Haram insurgency, stated that the country needed a coordinated military efforts and collaborative approach between military and civilian institutions to be able to stamp out the menace.
The title of the book written by Prof.Joan Ugo Mbagwu of the Department of Peace, Criminology, Security Studies of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State is:”Beyond Military Force A Strategy For Countering Terrorism In Nigeria: A Handbook.”
Buratai, the book launcher; who moved the military base from Abuja to Maiduguri, Borno State capital; the epic centre of the activities of insurgent operations moment after he was appointed by the then President and Commander -in.Chief of Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari; praised the galant military efforts made so far by Officers of the Armed Forces.
He, however, warned that the military should not be over stretched in maintaining peace in Nigeria,while also calling on the Nigerian Police to brace up to the challenge and play its role of keeping peace in the country.
In appraising the military efforts in curbing the twenty years of the menace in Nigeria, the Warrior commended the institutions for a job welldone.
“The military has done well to check the menace of the insurgents so far,” he said.
He, however, reiterated that more actions still needed to be taken to stamp out insurgency finally, stating:”if you go up North East, we still have serious issues .
“In the North West, the military is trying, but in the remote areas the bandits are still causing a lot of havock ,”he said.
He said a situation whereby some unscrupulous Nigerians are still sponsoring the insurgents; providing food provision, money, information and even supplying women to the criminals would not help to fastract the process of ending terrorism.
Speaking on de-radicalisation of the insurgents, Buratai who recalled the destructive activities of the terrorists; ranging from maiming to outright killings of the citizens, said no state has the right to negotiate with the enemies.
He praised the efforts of the writer for her intellectual work in commiting to memory and in analysing one of the most dangerous challenges confronting Nigeria.
He, then recommend the book for Scholars, Research Centers, Tartiary and Military Institutions, saying:”she has written a research book of note.”
Also, Prof. Mbagwu, the Writer said that she wrote the book to have a look at the factors that led to the insurgency; such as radicalization, no peace, poor socio-economic condition and sole government security structure.
She said she equally wrote the book to see how we could analyse the factors mitigating terrorism; including de-radicalisation, improved socio-economic condition and community /CSOs structure.
“For instance, I want to consider a situation whereby a citizen who is suffering from acute poverty or aggrieved in one way of the other is being offered financial succour by the insurgents to work against his county.
” Surely, he would gladly grab the opportunity, ” she said.
Prof.Mbagwu, therefore implored the Federal Government to address the factors affecting the socio-economic well-being of the citizenry and whatever injustice they may claim to be suffering from., stating:” these are the way to ensuring peace and an end to trouble.”
Earlier on, the Chairman of the Book Launch, Pastor Olubunmi Ajala, who prayed for peace in the country implored all citizens to work towards ensuring making the nation a better place to live in, saying :we have no other place we can call our own.I hereby commend the effort of the writer.”
Chief Uchegbunaam Carnice Onwudiwe , the Co-ordinator of the the book launch, who flew in from his base in Spain on the morning of the event said, I am committed to ensuring peace in Nigeria.”
” Even though I am in the diaspora, peace in Nigeria is paramount to me ,” he said.
Mr Ajayi Adeboye, the Strategist for the project, who spoke on the strides of the Writer said “the event started by accident when he met the Author on a visit to the Coordinator’s house.”
He commended the efforts of the writer in addressing the issue impacting on Nigerians’ peace, saying “I am happy the effort is yielding fruits.”
Meanwhile, part of the highlights of the event was the book launch proper; where Gen. Buratai took the lead in launching five copies of the book for N1m, as others followed suit chooing in various sums for booking their own.
He was subsequently rewarded with an award for peace keeping in Nigeria.
