‘B’ Haram, no big deal’

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, has described the recurring terrorist attacks by the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the North-Eastern part of the country as not a big deal.

Yusuf said if the relevant security agencies  came together to form a synergy, the problem would be dealt with in no time.

He said this on Friday at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar, Cross River State, when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Obi Medani.

The GOC said it was time for the military and other security operatives to synergise in order to completely flush out Boko Haram insurgents.

He said, “We are committed to solving the problem in the North-Eastern part of the country. The crisis in the North East is not a big a deal. It is just that we have not come together to work out strategies to tackle the problems properly. We must work together. We cannot achieve anything if we work on our own.”

He stressed that the security agencies should not only be working together during war times or when there was any kind of problem but also in times of peace.

Yusuf lauded the navy for their efforts so far in discharging their duties. He promised to continue to support them when the need arises.

In his response, Medani said the synergy should not only be focused on terrorist attack as experienced in the North-East, but also to tackle kidnapping, illegal bunkering, armed robbery in the south-east, south-south and south-west of Nigeria.

Medani, who assumed office on Friday after taking over from his predecessor, Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi, said any failure in the army would affect all other arms of the military.

Copyright PUNCH.