New service chiefs will curtail Boko Haram excesses, says Jonathan

    
Barely 48 hours after Boko Haram insurgents killed 22 people at a church service in Waga Chakawa, Adamawa State, President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday during a visit to the state assured Nigerians that the new service chiefs he appointed penultimate week would curtail the sect’s excesses.

Apart from the Waga Chakawa incident, insurgents had also on Sunday evening attacked another village in Borno State, killing a soldier and 51 other persons.

About 16 others, including policemen and traders, were injured while 300 houses were set ablaze by the insurgents in Kawuri, Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

But Jonathan while paying homage to the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, in his palace, insisted that once the service chiefs who are undergoing screening at the National Assembly resume work fully, the nation’s security equation would change.

He expressed the belief that the new service chiefs would be cleared this week.

He commiserated with the people of the state on the lost of lives in the latest attack.

Jonathan said, “Let me also congratulate you for producing the current Chief of Defence Staff for the country. He is somebody I have worked with before and I believe with him and the other service chiefs, definitely the security equation will change. They have not been cleared by the National Assembly, which I believe will be done this week.

“I believe by next week, we will have our first security council meeting and I believe that the tempo will change. The police working with the armed forces, the excess of Boko Haram will be reduced.”

The President the security challenges in parts of the country had posed a challenge to traditional rulers in the affected areas.

He reiterated his earlier position that the situation was Nigeria’s share of global terror.

He also re-assured Nigerians that the country would overcome its challenges.

He added, “It is quite a challenging period for our traditional rulers and religious leaders and opinion leaders because of the security challenges we have especially in the North Eastern part of this country.

“Let me on behalf of the government, express our condolences to the various people that have died in this unnecessary Book Haram insurgence over this period. Only three days ago, on Sunday, people were killed carelessly, some while worshiping.

“These things were never part of our country before this time. These things are very alien to us or because these days they say the world is a global village so the bad habit travel faster than the good ones.

“Nigeria is getting its share of the terror. God willing Nigeria will overcome these challenges. We express our condolences to you, members of the emirate council and indeed all the people of Adamawa State.”

Jonathan promised that his administration will continue to work with the state government to better the lives of the people.

He explained that the state of emergency his government declared in the state and two others -Borno and Yobe- was not punitive.

The Lamido Adamawa had earlier told the President that the curfew being imposed in the state is adversely affecting the commercial life in the state.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to assist in repairs and rehabilitation of some roads in the state.

Jonathan had on January 16 sacked his service chiefs.

The only survivor of the changes in the nation’s military high command is the erstwhile Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh who the President elevated to the position of the Chief of Defence Staff to replace Admiral Ola Ibrahim.

He also named Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah as replacement for Lt.-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika as the Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin as replacement for Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba as the Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu took over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.