Despite 5 Military Operations, Insecurity Still Taking A Toll On North

Despite five military operations in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, insecurity still poses a big challenge in the region.

LEADERSHIP reports that even though they are on national assignment, the two ministers of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Bello Matawalle are from the North.

Also, the national security adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa are from the same northern region.

The five military operations ongoing in the 19 Northern States are: Operation Hadin Kai in the North East against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists; Operation Hadarin Daji in the North West against banditry, and Operation Safe Haven in the North Central, all aimed at tackling insecurity.

Other operations include Operation Whirl Punch in the North West, and Operation Whirl Stroke in the North Central to combat farmers/herders clashes.

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The Nigerian Armed Forces’ five operations in the North to combat terrorism, banditry, herders/farmers clashes and kidnapping, it was gathered, led to the killing of 5,169 terrorists while about 6,780 have been arrested.

It was gathered that even though about 3,713 hostages were rescued by the military within a period of seven months, there is still no sign in insight towards an end to the rising scourge of insecurity in the North as killings and kidnappings are still on the rise in the North and other parts of the country.

All these operations concurrently going in the 19 Northern states have collectively led to deaths, arrests and rescue of hostages in the last seven months, but residents still can’t sleep with their two eyes closed.

LEADERSHIP reports that troops in the last seven months killed 5,169 terrorists, arrested 6,780 others and rescued 3,713 hostages from terrorists, bandits and kidnappers’ dens.

The troops recovered 2,783 arms and ammunition within the seven months period under review.

Tellingly, a military veteran, Major General James Nyam (rtd) said military operations cannot solve the problem of insecurity caused by years of bad governance.

He said despite the acclaimed success of military operations it would only address the symptoms and not the root causes of the problem of insecurity being faced.

He said: “Kinetic Operations (military actions) are never and can never be a solution to insecurity that have been caused by mis-governance or failure of governance.

“Fundamentally, for peace, sanity and normalcy to be fully restored, those governance issues have to be addressed, viz political inclusion, justice, employment opportunities, poverty eradication, community/citizen engagement, and education, etc.

“As long as mis-governance prevails, no amount of military effort will bring the required or acceptable sanity.

“We are addressing the symptoms of insecurity and not the causative factors! If we don’t tackle the causative factors, we will not have peace. This is the understanding that most of our political leaders do not have or don’t want to have,” he said.

The director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, when contacted on why insecurity persists despite success of military operations in the North, said 70 percent of the solution lies with good governance while military actions account for only 30 percent.

He said: “Military action is just 30 percent of winning an insurgency. The remaining 70 percent has to do with issues relating to good governance, justice and equity for all.”