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Buratai opens up on why Nigeria may not win war against Boko Haram
BY KAZIE UKO
Nigeria’s immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), has opened up on why Nigeria may not win the war against the terrorist Boko Haram, banditry and other insurrections going on in the northern parts of the country.
Buratai, who, Thursday in Abuja, appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening as non-career ambassador-designate, gave a chilling account of the factors that continue to beset Nigeria’s effort to drive away the insurgents and reclaim lost territories.
He summed up his frightening narrative with the conclusion that the Boko Haram insurgency may not end in 20 years’ time.
“This crisis might not end in 20 years’ time. We have achieved a lot of successes but we cannot continue to use the same tactics and achieve different results,” said Buratai who had at various times claimed that Boko Haram had been flushed out.
READ: Boko Haram flushed out of North East – Buratai
According to the former army chief, terrorists have for a long time indoctrinated the people, making it difficult to defeat them within a short period.
He said though Nigerian troops, in collaboration with their counterparts in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, have been recording successes in anti-Boko Haram war, military onslaught alone cannot end the crisis.
Buratai, the longest serving Nigerian army chief (former record held by General Sani Abacha) said there were political and socio-economic factors that needed to be addressed, adding that many communities in northern Nigeria lacked basic amenities.
“Our troops are also collaborating with Chadian and Cameroonian troops. We recorded successes. But the terrorists have permeated into the society.
“My state (Borno) is an epicentre where this indoctrination has penetrated so deep. It is not something you can get right over night.
READ: Resign now or be sacked, Reps tell Buratai, other Service Chiefs
“Only the military cannot solve this problem. There were socio-economic factors that need to be addressed. There should be basic amenities, but they are missing.
“I can count five local government areas in Borno without good roads. The same thing is in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto. In other northern states there are so many ungovernable spaces, because of lack of access road and other basic amenities,” he enumerated.
Buratai and four other retired service chiefs were appointed ambassadors-designate by the president, Muhammadu Buhari.
They are retired Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, former Navy Chief, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.