APC Chieftain Decries Killing Of Military Officers, Civilians

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Haruna Yerima, has decried the latest waves of terror attacks that consumed the lives of Brig- General Oseni Braimoh, soldiers and civilians.

He said the latest waves of attacks in some parts of the country are reversing the earlier gains recorded by the Nigerian Armed Forces in routing the insurgents.

The former House of Representatives member who spoke to journalists in Abuja yesterday said the murder of General Braimoh, the commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade of Operation HADIN KAI by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists during the assault on their camp in Benisheikh, Borno State, was the latest setback to the counter-terror campaign.

Professor Yerima regretted that almost all the slain generals were killed through ambush by the insurgents. “I believe it is high time for the military authority to change tactics in counter-terrorism operations. The terrorists have adopted one tactic – ambush- in killing our high-valued senior officers. We have to devise ways of stopping that madness,” the don said.

The academic said the murder of General Braimoh came months after another senior officer, Brig-General M. Uba, who commanded the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, was killed after ISWAP fighters tracked and intercepted him along the Damboa–Biu axis.

He said the existing counter-terrorism operations doctrine must be reviewed to save our senior officers, troops and civilian population from the marauding terrorists.

Professor Yerima said the military had achieved milestone in its fight against the terrorists, “but only to be reversed by the latest attacks on our Forward Bases (Super Camps), well-articulated ambushes of military convoys, as well as widening the scope of the terror theatre to other parts of the country. This must be checked.”

He said the Nigerian Armed Forces must fuse intelligence gathering mechanisms, technology and human capital to address the ongoing campaign launched by various non-state actors that include Boko Haram/ISWAP, Lakurawa, Mamuda, IPOB, bandits as well as various communal warriors operating across the North-Central parts of the country.

“There is this coordinated onslaught on the sovereignty of Nigeria by non-state actors across the country. Kwara State has recently emerged as another theatre of terrorism with the barbaric slaughter of civilians in their hundreds by the Mamuda terror network. In Kebbi state, Lakurawa terrorists have up their ante in attacking civilians and security personnel.

“In Zamfara, Niger and Katsina states, despite the earlier calmness in terror attacks, the militants have recently returned with unprecedented ferocity razing villages and killing civilians. Communal warriors in Benue and Plateau States are not left out as they unleash lethal attacks on civilians and security forces. These waves of attacks must be countered or nipped in the bud through all means possible,” the professor of public policy said.

While appreciating the relentless efforts of the military and civilian authorities in the ongoing anti-terror campaign, the APC chieftain said there is still urgent need for more advanced and result-oriented strategies, coupled with well-equipped and highly-motivated officers and personnel to address the ongoing challenges.