Baron Ike
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has made a case for a renewed local and international support to end terrorism in Nigeria and elsewhere.
He spoke on the sideline of a meeting with a security delegation from the Atlantic Council, African Centre in the United States of America where he attributed the re-appearance of high profile attacks in Nigeria’s Northeast to the support that the Boko Haram insurgents get from some individuals.
His words: “We have some elements who are within this society and are still supporting them clandestinely. So the support of every Nigerian is very key to the end of this terrorism.”
Buratai regretted that the role of the Nigerian Army in prosecuting the counter-terrorism crusade in the northeast has been misinterpreted by some people.
Hear him:“There have been many misgivings on the role of the Nigerian Army as it relates to human rights abuses, rules of engagement (as well as) treatment of civilians and Internally Displaced Persons.
“Hence, the need to conduct an assessment on the threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria with emphasis on roles of (the) Nigeria Army has become imperative.”
Leader of the delegation, John Peter-Pham, emphasised the need to cut terrorists financing.
“As an American and as an analyst, I believe that there are few fights currently going on in the world today and that is important not only to Nigeria, but to its neighbours in the international community as the repression of terrorist financing which has not only caused untold human suffering but also, its a setback for regional integration and economic growth,” he said.
The meeting, which took place on Monday at the Army Resource Centre in Abuja, was convened to assess the threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.