President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Boko Haram insurgency is political in nature.
This he said on Monday at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Air Force international air power seminar tagged “Air Power in Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Understanding and Responding.
According to the president, the nature of the insurgency which is political is the reason why ”successful counter insurgency operations would therefore require unity of efforts across multiple ministries, departments and agencies covering political, economic, law enforcement, intelligence and of course the military, in what is popularly called whole of the nation approach.
“In this regard, we have mobilized relevant agencies and international organizations to support the counterinsurgency effort in order to ensure success.”
He however added that his administration’s vision is to build a steady and affluent Nigeria that would be the pride of future generations.
“Peace and stability can only be achieved if we are committed to enforcing reforms that will entrench true democracy in our polity,” he said.
President Buhari made it known to his audience, comprising service chiefs and Air Force chiefs across the continent, that his government considers it of high priority to develop the capacity of Nigeria’s armed forces and that of all security agencies.
“We are committed to enhancing the welfare of all service personnel to enable them give their utmost in their service to the nation.
“We are also committed to ensuring that our armed forces are appropriately trained and equipped to deal with the contemporary challenges of a globalised world, of which insurgency and terrorism have become of greatest concern,” he noted.
However, one of the commanders of the Islamic State of West Africa, Sale Ahmad Sale (Baban Hassan) has been reportedly killed by Nigerians troops struggling with insurgents in the northeast. Ahmad, who was the leader of Al-Barnawi media group, a section of Boko Haram, was reportedly killed in a joint operation conducted by the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air force
