Out of touch with reality

Hardball

FROM the look of things, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has lost touch with reality. He thinks he can win a shooting war with his mouth.

Lt. Gen.Buratai said the army would crush Boko Haram in a matter of days, according to reports. The army boss spoke through the Chief of Policy, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, during the Nigerian Army Special Day at the 41st Kaduna International Trade Fair on March 7.

It should have been good news, considering that the war against the Boko Haram insurgents has gone on for more than 10 years now. But Lt. Gen.Buratai only succeeded in creating doubts about his sense of reality.

There was no basis for Lt. Gen. Buratai’s remark. But he found a basis for it. He was quoted as saying: “Specifically, few days ago, our troops deployed in Damboa, Borno State, recorded a resounding tactical victory against the evil forces of Boko Haram who dared the superiority of our Forces. They paid very dearly for it by the monumental losses in men and equipment.”

Lt. Gen.Buratai conveniently forgot that three days before his speech at the trade fair, on March 4, Boko Haram had carried out a night attack on Dapchi, Yobe State. The truth is that the theatre of war is still as hot as ever.

The Executive Secretary of Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Mohammed Goje, confirmed that the terrorists killed six policemen. He said the insurgents burned down the military base in the town and a section of the police station in the town. The insurgents were also said to have destroyed a military vehicle and a mobile police bulletproof vehicle.

It is noteworthy that the police spokesman gave an insight into the strength of the insurgents and the weakness of the government’s forces: “The criminals mounted a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) which has a range of about 800 metres. What this means is that no matter the marksmanship of the cops and the quality of their rifle, they are at a disadvantage since the criminals can hide at a distance of about 600 metres, mount their weapons and open fire on their target.”

This picture doesn’t show that the rebels have been so weakened that they would be defeated in a matter of days, as Buratai had boasted. Buratai is entitled to his fantasy, but he shouldn’t publicise it because the public can recognise that it’s all empty talk.