His equal position that, rather than this brigade of nihilists being called the proper name they are, ‘bandits’, they should be branded ‘insurgents’ is equally baffling and unacceptable.
Recall that, in the 792 months that the immediate past Service Chiefs held sway in the country, the Buhari administration and the nation groaned heavily under the weight of insecurity orchestrated by the Haram-spewing terrorists and insurgents and bandits.
But despite spirited calls by Nigerians for a change in the headship of the armed forces, the president, perhaps for reasons best known to him, refused to fire his military chiefs.
In an earlier editorial, this paper had noted, “The National Assembly had passed several motions and resolutions, calling for a change of the service chiefs. Even members of the opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party caucus in the chamber, also initiated an impeachment move against Buhari for “failing to fire the service chiefs.”
“Clearly, many other stakeholders put pressure on the President to change the service chiefs. But in all this, Buhari remained unperturbed.’’
The editorial added, “Almost daily, the media is inundated with news of kidnappings and killings. The tempo of the reports and most times, the accompanying ugly statistics, evidently reflect a scary trend that is a threat to the citizens.
“It is our considered opinion that the unwholesome activities, if not promptly and effectively addressed, could lead to problems whose outcome would be unpalatable to many, irrespective of creed, tribe and status.
“The appointment of new service chiefs, comprising first rate theatre commanders of military operations in the North East and Niger Delta, among others, is welcome. Though the appointment is coming almost belatedly, it is better late than never.
Terrorism, banditry common agenda of the caliphate, IPOB tells Sheik Gumi
Thus, we appreciate the fact that when the president finally decided to do the needful, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, as well as Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar were sacked as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff, respectively.
In their place, new wine was poured into new bottle, with field tacticians, Major-Generals Leo Irabor and Ibrahim Attahiru, as well as Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo and Air Vice Marshall Isiaka Amao stepping into the hot shoes of security supervision in the nation.
We note that past attempts at negotiating with the terrorists -bandits, insurgents or whatever they choose to be called – as well as their embarrassing runs, had always fallen on deaf ears.
In particular, note is taken of the case in Katsina State, where attempts by the state government to pacify the bandits failed to make them turn a new leaf.
The bandits need to be told in plain terms that, in saner climes, you don’t negotiate with people with a separatist agenda, not to talk of blood mongers.
It is in this regard that we support the position of Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who argued against Gumi’s prescription on how to end the regime of terror insurgency in the country.
There is no doubt that, if Nigerians want the new service chiefs to succeed in their onerous task of confronting insecurity in the nation frontally, they will succeed, like we earlier noted, in no small measure, if they will rely on the political will of the Administration.
But they also need the overwhelming cooperation of the citizens.
It is the task of the opinion and clerical leaders, political elite and the followership, to desist from inhibiting the nation’s battle against insecurity with half-baked suggestions.
To combat kidnappings, killings and banditry, influential leaders should be more circumspect in their commentaries, especially comments that tend to demoralise and demotivate troops.
This paper demands that a swift and decisive action be taken to end insurgency in the country, instead of negotiating with terrorists of whatever hue.
