Security

We’re not sure when Boko Haram insurgency will end –DHQ
05.02.2014.
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday said it was not sure
when the Boko Haram insurgency in the country will come to
an end. The headquarters said it was impossible to determine
when the insurgency would end in April. This new position was
coming about 16 days after the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air
Marshal
The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday said it was not sure
when the Boko Haram insurgency in the country will come to an
end. The headquarters said it was impossible to determine when
the insurgency would end in April. This new position was coming
about 16 days after the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal
Alex Badeh, said the Boko Haram menace would end in April this
year But the DHQ yesterday clarified the statement, saying that it
was not a promise to Nigerians, but a charge by the CDS to his
service chiefs. However, in what looked like another version to the
April deadline yesterday, the DHQ in a statement in Abuja, through
its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Major-General Chris
Olukolade, aimed at clarifying the CDS statement, which he did not
deny, said it was meant to bring the insurgency sufficiently under
control. The statement reads in part: “The remarks made by the
Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal A. S. Badeh during the
handing and taking over ceremony between him and the immediate
past CDS on the need to end terrorism by April this year, has
expectedly generated lots of comments, interpretation and
reactions, especially from the media. This has necessitated a
clarification in the interest of the general public and for record
purposes. “It is true that the CDS discussed the menace of
insurgency/terrorism in parts of the country and the state of
emergency. He also implored the service chiefs to take every
necessary step towards bringing the activities of the Boko Haram
insurgents in the North-East to an end. “Accordingly, he declared
that, April is very crucial in this task, especially as a way of
avoiding possible constitutional stalemate. The CDS was not
unmindful of the hydra-headed nature of the situation when he
made those comments. “He was simply being optimistic that given
the vigour, zeal and combat readiness of the new service chiefs, the
Nigerian military must work hard to bring the situation in the North-
East to an end or sufficiently under control to pave way for normal
socioeconomic activities in these parts of the country.”