We are all just not getting it right. BH has been defeated, they hold no ground in sovereign Nigeria as was the case before this regime.
Knowing that fighting terrorism is an unconventional campaign and from their characteristics, we’ll know that some of them resides within the areas they operate living a life that friends & families will not suspect. A great percentage of the locals in the operation zone make up the sleeper cells teams, readily transmitting information to members of the operations cells within the geographic zone. The cause, religious in nature, of BHT is also a great problem – Boko Haram; adherence to Islamic doctrine, though extremist in this case and rejecting western civilization. This has been drummed into the skulls of the populace who are predominantly Muslim. Some of them are brainwashed, others coerced, forced or threatened. Instilling and installing fear into the minds of civilians is another foremost characteristic of terrorism.
As a military leader & strategist, tactical planner and special operator, the COAS knowing all above and more in 2017 after destroying a main hideout of the insurgents, advised that political figures and civil security agencies should immediately position themselves in these areas but till date, no presence of these group of people are seen. The political figures and traditional leaders, he said, were to continually enlighten the locals of true Islamism and denounce the teachings and cause of BHT. THEY TURNED DEAF EARS TO THE COAS’ CALL. If anyone expect the military to, after recapturing these vasts expanse of land, hold it and deploy troops on every street and economic sites, it is not only not possible but unconstitutional. The civil security agencies must return to these LGs & Wards while the elected/selected politicians in the areas take up their positions as LGs Chairmen or Ward Councillors with the civil security agencies providing first line security and the military on call support.
Check out the countries where mercenaries have been deployed globally and you’ll find serious devastation.
Daniel Banjo, a public & private security analyst writes from Lagos
gamjireporters.news.blog 