FROM: PAUL ORUDE, BAUCHI
A group, Concerned Professionals’ Congress (CPC), has commended Nigeria Armed forces over successes recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, saying recent pockets of killings in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states were not an indication that the deadly sect was back.
They made this known while addressing a press conference jointly delivered by the Chief Media Strategist, Mr. Emeka Nwanpka, and the Regional Rapporteur, Mallam Baba Akassim, in Bauchi.
Nwankpa, who decried the recent abduction of oil exploration workers and staff members of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and some academics from the University of Maiduguri in the Lake Chad Basin, expressed the hope that the Nigerian troops would overcome the terror group totally.
He said CPC reviewed emerging developments in the ongoing anti-terrorism campaign and disagreed with some commentators who assumed a possible resurgence of terrorism in the region.
He said: “We beg to differ. Such thinking is false, fallacious and
fatally-flawed. It is not a correct reading of the situation as far as fighting contemporary terrorism is concerned.
“For now, it may seem to the ordinary mind that the intensity of the attacks on soft targets in the recent time suggest an indication of Boko Haram’s resurgence.
“The truth remains that the capacity of the sect to congregate and directly confront our troops or aggregate any Nigerian territory at will, has since been degraded.
“Such capacity has been decisively dislodged by our courageous troops whose morale remains at an all-time high.
“Our troops have maintained the upper hand not minding the heavy risks they face daily in the field of battle.
“We are proud of them. This is the central message of this press conference.
“The reality today is that the sect is in disarray. Every inch of
Nigeria’s territory is free, courtesy of the resolve and resilience of the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, whose remarkable synergy-driven leadership has galvanised our armed forces to dislodge terrorism and insurgency in the North East. The global community has been applauding the Nigerian military.”
Nwanpka said CPC is encouraged by the efforts of the federal government to ensure the safe release of the abducted NNPC and UNIMAID staff.
He said: “We commend the military and other security agencies for their swiftness and their sense of dispatch at this critical time. It is worth-noting that our commanders and troops at Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North East have worked tirelessly and relentlessly to stabilise the region”
Also speaking, Akassim, said it is in the interest of all Nigerians to support the nation’s security services to sustain the current momentum in the counter-terrorism campaign aimed at providing the atmosphere to bring complete peace to the North East.
He said the group endorsed measures being undertaken by Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima to deliver service and dividend of democracy to the people of the state in spite of the challenges of insecurity.
Alkassim said the CPC is committed to promoting peace, unity and stability in the country as well as mobilize necessary public support to our gallant troops and their able commanders “until we see finally see the back of terror in our land.”