President Muhammadu Buhari administration will not spare
Boko Haram sponsors, in the fight to rid the nation of terrorists and their
backers, the Minister of Informational and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, has said.
Addressing a press conference on the successes recorded by
the Nigerian military and other security
agencies in the anti-Boko Haram war,
in Abuja, yesterday, he said due process would be followed in bringing those
behind the terrorists to book.
His words: “The dilemma of government is how to redress the
past wrong. What I want to assure you is that nobody, who is responsible for
this situation either by sponsoring Boko Haram or stealing our resources, will
go unpunished. That I can assure you. But we will follow due process.”
Reacting to the Federal Government’s seeming lack of
commitment to bringing Boko Haram suspects to book, as has been the case in
Chad where they are usually summarily tried, condemned and killed, Mohammed
said that the legal system in Nigeria was different and that the authorities
would not want any innocent person killed in that process.
His words: “Our legal regime is different. I can assure you
that it is not in the interest of the military to protect Boko Haram because
they are the first victims of the activities of the insurgents.”
The minister absolved those in the current government of
sponsoring or supporting Boko Haram terrorists in any way, as according to him,
“nobody in this government will hide a Boko Haranm suspect.”
He said all Nigerians did not only owe the Nigerian military
and other security agencies a debt of gratitude for the enormous sacrifices and
commitment in the fight against Boko Haram but also needed to own the war on
terror.
According to him, the terrorists’ attacks on Bama were
extremely sobering, disclosing that none of the 6,000 houses in that North
Eastern town was standing when his team visited last weekend.
The minister disclosed that the project of re-building Bama
would commence in January with about 41,000 housing units.
He added that in the case of Konduga, the Borno State had
rebuilt the town on three occasions but that on each occasion, the town was
re-taken by the Boko Haram elements and destroyed.
Reacting to growing disappointment of members of the public
in the Federal Government’s failure to re-unite the abducted Chibok girls with
their parents over six months into this administration, Mohammed said the
military was still searching for them.
“The military is leaving no stone unturned up till now.
Right now, the military is undertaking major onslaughts,” he said.
According to the minister, the alleged arms deal fraud
negatively impacted on the war against Boko Haram but that the troops and their
officers were now adequately motivated to bring decimate Boko Haram this month
to the extent that they would no longer be able to hold any territory.
The minister said there was need for a Marshal Plan for the
reconstruction of the North Eastern part of the country, following the massive
destruction by Boko Haram.
“Anybody who goes to the North-East will not need convincing
that there is need for a kind of Marshal Plan. Anybody who has been to Bama
will be sober,” Mohammed said.
Meanwhile, President of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Boni
Yayi, has pledged to send 800 soldiers to fight alongside Nigerian troops.
Yayi’s disclosure came on a day President Buhari also
charged him to ensure that he conducted a credible election that would herald
his exit from office next year.
The visiting President. who addressed State House
correspondents after a closed door meeting with his host at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, yesterday, stated that the soldiers were battle ready.
According to him, Benin Republic would always stand by the
government of President Buhari to ensure he succeeds in office.
He said: “President Buhari took over the mantle of
government at a time terrorism occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram is
high.
“To fight terrorism, Benin is ready to send about 800 men to
join the men that are already prepared to fight terrorism. The team is battle
ready for deployment.
“The will power is there and Benin is committed to deploying
the men. Benin will always remain on the side of Nigeria in its trying times.
“The sub-region is also going through serious problems of
development. Fighting Boko Haram is becoming difficult because OPEC countries
are going through oil crisis. We will always stand beside Buhari in his fight
against corruption.”
In his response, President Buhari stated that his government
was committed to defeating the insurgents.
He said that the terrorists had retreated to the hinterlands
of the North-East due to the intensified military operations in the region.
He called for the cooperation of neighbouring countries in
the fight against terrorism, oil theft among others, revealing that it was for
that purpose that Nigeria would be hosting the Economic Community of West
Africa States, ECOWAS, in less than two weeks from now.
Meanwhile, a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Mr.
Femi Adesina, about what transpired during the closed-door meeting stated that
President Buhari tasked Yayi on transparent polls in February next year.
“Whatever happens in Benin is of particular interest to
Nigeria because we are very good neighbours. I will like to congratulate the
President of Benin for successfully completing two terms in office, and his
plan to hand over power after the elections in February,” the President said.
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