Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida (retd), yesterday, lamented the resurgence in the murderous
activities of the Boko Haram sect in the last four weeks of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,
saying that it has struck fear in the hearts of most Nigerians.
Since May 29, Boko Haram has unleashed an avalanche of
suicide bombings and attacks on religious houses, markets and public places in
Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Kaduna states among other places, destroying
about 700 lives and property worth billions of Naira.
Disturbed by the increasing wave of the attacks, Babangida,
who expressed confidence in the ability of Buhari to nail Boko Haram’s coffin
and that Nigeria can truly assume her greatness in the comity of nations,
nevertheless, urged the President to hammer out new and effective ways of
tackling the insurgency.
He also pleaded with
Nigerians to unite against the terrorists and asked the media to shun
sensational headlines and celebration of the sect’s killings.
The former president shared his thoughts via a Sallah
message he titled: “Let us be strong and unite against insurgency.”
Within the last four weeks, according to him, the country
has witnessed the worst of human follies in the conduct of these avoidable
carnage and bloodletting by unscrupulous persons that operate under the guise
of religion and wreaking havoc on Nigeria and Nigerians’ sense of nationality.
In the Sallah message, Babangida also called on President
Buhari to ensure that the welfare of military personnel waging the anti-terror
war are adequately taken care of to encourage soldiers, who would be assigned
such responsibilities subsequently.
According to the former president, if President Buhari must
overcome the insurgency, it has become imperative to device new ways of
confronting members of Boko Haram without making public such new methods.
Noting that the Islamic religion he was born into 74 years
ago preaches peace and encourages everyone to cooperate with one another, he
prayed that God should touch the hearts of the insurgents to end the
bloodletting.
Babangida, who noted that if Nigeria was serious about the
management of information on security issues, the story of taking some Boko
Haram suspects and prisoners to Anambra State would not have been public
knowledge, advised that headlines and lead stories that promote activities of
the insurgents should be stopped.
The Statement
The statement reads: “Let me convey my warm wishes to all
Muslims home and abroad for the successful completion of the Ramadan exercise.
As much as one would have appreciated our efforts as devout Muslims who have
observed the obligatory month of Ramadan, the incessant killings and
bloodletting by members of the Boko Haram leave a sour taste in my mouth. For
want of no discernible ideology, they have continued to portray Islam in very
bad light, making members of other religions to perceive us with scorn. Islam,
which I was born into, some 74 years ago, is a very peaceful religion that
preaches brotherliness and togetherness. It is a religion that encourages love,
affection and respect for our neighbours and mankind. It is one religion that
has an abiding influence on its adherents to cooperate with one another and
promote peace in their respective communities. May God touch the hearts of
these insurgents so that the untoward act of bloodletting will permanently
cease. Happy Eid-el-Fitri to all.
“Events in the last four weeks have continued to raise our
adrenaline, in a season of apprehension and utter suspicion, about our security
engagements and the sum total of our collective sufferance as a nation. The
heightened tension is occasioned by renewed hostilities and mindless bombings
predominantly by suicide bombers who have decidedly chosen the option of death
to life. We have seen the worst of human follies in the conduct of these
avoidable carnage and bloodletting by unscrupulous persons under the guise of religion,
doing havoc to our sense of nationality.
New ways to tackle insurgency
“At this stage of our national history, especially with the
insecurity we presently experience, it is appropriate for us to device new ways
and means of confronting this hydra-headed insurgency, without making such
initiatives public knowledge. Media intelligence is required in helping to
assemble information and distilling such information in a manner that would
benefit the fight against terrorism. Going by the news and information we get
everyday, I feel very strongly that the media has a greater role to play in the
management of information. The type of headlines and lead stories that are
promoted in favour of the insurgents could only help to motivate members of
Boko Haram rather than demotivate them. I expect, with a deep sense of
patriotism, to see a greater deal of positive news promoted in support of
military efforts at confronting this menace than a celebration of Boko Haram
carnage, day in and day out.
“Strategic efforts and initiatives of the military targeted
at curtailing the spread of the Boko Haram should remain most often top secret
within military hierarchy and the presidency. Collaborative efforts should also
follow similar pattern so that little or limited information is let loose for
the consumption of members of the sect. Coordinated efforts by the security
agencies should be strengthened and refocused to gain new dimensions towards
combating the unwholesome activities of this sect, and when such dimensions are
sought and cultivated, they should remain the exclusive preserve of top
military brass. Information management is very key to confronting an
unconventional warfare such as the one under reference, which is further
complicated by the unfashionable method of suicide bombings.
“It is a strange dimension to this whole exercise of
insurgency and has further compounded our earlier strategies in helping to nip
this monster in the bud. The media, it must be emphasized, has a greater role
to play in this information management system where a well defined synergy is
encouraged between members of the media and the military hierarchy. On a good
day, as is often said, the idea of taking some Boko Haram suspects and
prisoners to Anambra State, should not be public knowledge, if we are truly
serious about information management.
“Each time we celebrate the dastardly acts of Boko Haram on
the front pages of our newspapers and electronic platforms, it is a score for
Boko Haram. We must weigh such information against our collective national
interest. Do we subscribe to Boko Haram or to the Nigerian nation? Since we are
of good consciences and subscribe to the Nigerian nation, military efforts and
achievements in the fight against insurgency should be given primacy than what
a suicide bomber has just done.
“We must make it a duty to encourage and motivate our
military personnel; those who have died in the course of this struggle and
those who are still there on the battle field trying to make the Nigerian
society safe for all of us. The families of those who have lost their gallant
fighters and bread winners must be catered for beyond the present tokenism.
This initiative will serve as incentive to others who are still in the trenches
battling to keep us safe.
“The President, General Muhammadu Buhari, as a military
officer, understands the import of these altruistic suggestions and I trust
that he will take steps to apply some of them that fit into the mainstream
strategies already in place. The approach has to be a holistic one, well
coordinated with full onslaught launched by the day and night to rout these
insurgents to surrender.
Condolence
“Let me join millions of Nigerians home and abroad in
condoling with the families of those who lost their beloved ones during this carnage.
Let me also commend the efforts of the Federal Government in helping to address
the plights of the Internally Displaced Persons across different locations in
the country.
“The renewed interest of the international community in
helping out with superior military hardware towards combating this menace is a
welcome development. Our Islamic clerics should do more in their daily sermons
to prevent new converts and recruits into this deadly group. Both religions
preach the virtues of good and pious life tempered with the fear of God or
Allah. We must continuously preach sermons that deliver the right messages to
our people without ambiguity.
“I have implicit confidence in my mind that President
Muhammadu Buhari, will put the final nail on the coffin of Boko Haram so that
Nigeria can truly assume her greatness in the comity of nations.”
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