Nigeria can only end the Boko Haram insurgency through strong intelligence, timely information sharing, and civilian cooperation, according to retired Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai.
The former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic made the remarks over the weekend during a book launch on counter-insurgency at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Joined by aides and dignitaries including former Super Eagles player Folorunsho Okenla, Buratai called for a unified front between the armed forces and civilian bodies to stamp out terrorism.
The title of the book written by Prof.Joan Ugo Mbagwu of the Department of Peace, Criminology, Security Studies of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State is:”Beyond Military Force A Strategy For Countering Terrorism In Nigeria: A Handbook.”
Recalling his decision to move the army’s operational headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Buratai commended troops for their bravery in combating Boko Haram over the past two decades.
He cautioned, however, that the military should not be overstretched by routine policing duties, calling on the Nigeria Police Force to assume its proper role in maintaining domestic security across the nation.
“The military has done well to check the menace of the insurgents so far,” he said.
He, however, reiterated that more actions still needed to be taken to stamp out insurgency finally, stating:”if you go up North East, we still have serious issues.
“In the North West, the military is trying, but in the remote areas the bandits are still causing a lot of havoc ,”he said.
He warned that the fight against terrorism is being undermined by unpatriotic individuals who continue to sponsor insurgents by providing them with food, funds, vital intelligence, and even women.
Speaking on de-radicalisation of the insurgents, Buratai who recalled the destructive activities of the terrorists; ranging from maiming to outright killings of the citizens, said no state has the right to negotiate with the enemies.
He praised the efforts of the writer for her intellectual work in commiting to memory and in analysing one of the most dangerous challenges confronting Nigeria.
Recommending the publication to scholars, research centers, tertiary schools, and military institutions, Gen. Buratai described it as “a research book of note.”
Speaking on her motivation, the author, Prof. Mbagwu, explained that the book examines the root causes of the insurgency, including radicalization, conflict, poor socio-economic conditions, and reliance on a centralized government security apparatus.
She added that the work also explores solutions to counter terrorism, emphasizing de-radicalization, improved economic conditions, and stronger involvement from local communities and civil society organizations (CSOs).
“For instance, I want to consider a situation whereby a citizen who is suffering from acute poverty or aggrieved in one way of the other is being offered financial succour by the insurgents to work against his county.
” Surely, he would gladly grab the opportunity, ” she said.
Prof. Mbagwu urged the Federal Government to tackle socio-economic hardship and address perceived grievances to foster lasting peace, noting that resolving these underlying issues is key to ending the conflict.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Pastor Olubunmi Ajala, led prayers for national peace and called on Nigerians to contribute toward building a better country.
“We have no other place we can call our own,” he said, commending the author for her timely research.
The event coordinator, Chief Uchegbunaam Carnice Onwudiwe, reaffirmed his commitment to national security, stating that peace in Nigeria remains paramount to citizens in the diaspora.
Recounting the origin of the project, project strategist Mr. Ajayi Adeboye shared that the collaboration began by chance after meeting the author during a visit to the coordinator’s residence.
He praised her dedication to addressing critical peace and security challenges in Nigeria, expressing satisfaction with the success of the initiative.