Nigeria Army Winning The War Against Boko Haram – FG

Tunde Oguntola

Leadership Newsp5— Dec 7, 2015 

The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has identified corruption, bad governance, poverty, unemployment, religious extremism, illiteracy among others as major reasons why terrorism thrives, saying that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to tackle and end terrorism.

Speaking to local and international journalists during a tour to Borno State to get firsthand information on the ongoing war against insurgency in the North East, at the weekend, at the operation Lafiya Dole media centre, Maiduguri, he stated that the federal government is committed to the vision of revamping the country’s economy and ending terrorism.

He said that all hands must be on deck to fully combat all forms of terrorism in the country, saying, “Terrorism is terrorism no matter the form. We are working on launching a national security campaign, because security is everybody’s business.”

In his presentation Major General Yushau Mahmood said, “The activities of Boko Haram insurgents have reduced drastically via adequate motivation in the theatre of war. So far, the army have done credibly well.”

He also called for adequate humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the suffering of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

In his tour to Bama and other crisis prone areas, Alhaji Lai Mohammed while addressing the IDPs observed that Bama that used to be a commercial hub is now a shadow of itself, stating that almost all the basic infrastructure in the town was destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

He also called for greater efforts and commitment to ensure that the displaced persons are adequately relocated to their home, as according to him, “You can see it yourself, the IDPs especially the children are looking lost. They cannot speak even Hausa language, expect their local languages.

They are even clapping their hands without understanding what was going on.

He said, “When we are done here, we all will be going to our various houses but, so sad, this IDPs in this critical harmattan season will be sleeping in the open.”

While addressing the troops at Bama, the Minister commended the troops who looks motivated for their gallant efforts in ensuring that no part of the country was conceded to Boko Haram and joined them in the push ups to honour his visit.

In his courtesy visit to the Government House, before departing to the airport, Lai Mohammed while commended and acknowledged the effort of the Borno state governor stating that it was not easy to combine governance and also managing insecurity.

Responding, Governor Shettima, commended the minister for the visit.

He said Mr Mohammed was the first Minister of Information that visited the state to get firsthand information on the war against insurgency, unlike the erstwhile Minister of Information who always talk much about the North East but never visited there