CDS Expresses Optimism That Nigerian Army Will Wipe Out Insurgency

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Defence Staff on Thursday, after visiting the scene of the Jos twin bomb blast the Plateau State capital, reiterated that the Nigeria Army will defeat the radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

*Nigerian Army Personnel  
While speaking to newsmen, the CDS refuted the claims that the Nigerian Armed Forces is not capable of curbing the menace of the Islamist, noting that the fact that they have not summarily brought an end to the exsistence of terrorism is not a yardstick to say the military are overwhelmed by the development.

He stated that the sect members are fleeing the North-East due to the pressure the military was mounting on them, and reiterated the military's commitment towards restoring order and normalcy in all troubled areas.

"So, the North-East is no longer a safe place for them to operate and they are moving to other softer targets. That is what is happening and we will follow them" he said.

"Boko Haram insurgents were very cowardly because they were going after softer targets. They come to the market and kill people who live day by day, the poorest of the poor in the society, you come and kill them. What they are trying to do is just to intimidate us. But you know that terror will not deter us from being Nigerians. We will continue to do what we are doing. We will continue to live our lives. Terror will not succeed. We will eventually overcome it".

While commending the security operatives over the few insurgents members, especially the perpetrators of recent bombings that have been arrested, Badeh said: "If we tell you the number of arrests and the number of things we thwart, you will always be scared. We have been catching these people (insurgents). You know that in a game of football, no matter how many goals the goalkeeper catches, nobody will remember. It is that lone goal that has not been scored that people will not forget. That is exactly what has happened here. All we can say is that Nigeria has a military that is capable. Fight against insurgency is not something you win in one day. But we will eventually overcome. Some people have fought for over 40 years. They are still at it. In Nigeria, we started our own, we declared a state of emergency, just over two or a year now and we have already done so much in the North-East such that the insurgents are running from the North-East and finding where to go and look for softer targets".

The CDS pleaded with Nigerians to be patient as well as bring useful information to security operatives, no matter how little, to security agencies and call emergency number 112 on their  GSM even if they  don’t have credit.

He ordered Chris Olakpe, the state police commissioner to bar people from selling along the roads, pointing out that the casualty figure would have been fewer if not for roadside traders.

Meanwhile, the Commander, Special Task Force, Major-General David Enetie, Former General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, Major-General Awala and other senior military officers were among the Defence Chief entourage.