The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boko haram

  • The Boko Haram police chief

    It is difficult, really, to fathom why Commissioner Joseph Mbu is yet to be deployed to the Boko Haram Kingdom. The first person to recommend him for promotion to the war theatre was Professor Wole Soyinka. The accomplished writer and academic did a survey of the Police Force and introspection over the terrorism threat and came up with the ingenious recommendation.

    Mbu is a beloved cop in whom the presidency is well pleased. And, it has been proven over and over again that officers earn accelerated promotion when sent to the war front. The closest we have to a war in Nigeria today is the insurgency in the North East. Only our best should be sent to the area in order to bring the challenge under control in no time.

    Mr. Mbu (not Ibu) has demonstrated that he is a tough cop. It takes guts to take on a state governor and remain in the state. He has continued to dare the governor of Rivers State, providing cover for Amaechi’s opponents, while denying the governor’s supporters the freedom to freely associate. He also took on the state House of Assembly, daring the honourable members to force their way into the chamber to conduct the legitimate business for which they were elected.

    The Rivers CP is the only police commander that I know who could issue a caveat emptor to National Assembly members who sought to come over to the state to take up the task of lawmaking. He could and would not guarantee their security and, when a verdict was procured in support of the CP’s advisory, the lawmakers stayed away.

    Our dear CP sure knows his onion. He saw nothing wrong with placing a full page advertisement in national newspapers to salute his boss. Hitherto, police chiefs had kept their relationships away from the public glare, but our man would have none of that. If you have it, he believes, you should flaunt it.

    Once again, in the interest of peace in the land; in the process of setting up a potent anti-terrorism unit, I wish to suggest that Mr. Mbu should be considered as a commander. I know many may say the unit is being packaged by the army, not Police. But, what is wrong with locating talent in the Police and making good use of him? I believe the man is being under-utilised by the Police Force and may not find fulfillment in the job he is doing.

    It is no use suggesting that the environment may be strange to him. The Police Force is a federal agency. I will be surprised if he has never served in some parts of the North East. The talent with which the super cop has been well endowed; the intelligence that he freely gathers in Port Harcourt that allows him know when the Save Rivers Movement is meeting and the lightening speed he employs in getting his men break up such gatherings should be put to a better use.

    I know that the President and his men may be worried that there may be no other police chief who could handle the Rivers crisis to his satisfaction. But, that would be selfish. The President’s political interest should not override the national interest. While President Jonathan could be forgiven for sparing some thought for the man who would handle critical states like Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Kaduna and Oyo for him ahead of the February 2014, he only needs to span the gamut of the Force to locate men who would replicate Mbu’s loyalty and commitment in the states.

    Better still, the President could instruct the IGP to list a number of officers of Ijaw extraction to be deployed for such duties. In that case, he would have nothing to worry about. It would be their joy to take elderly counsel from Pa Edwin Clark on how to patriotically work for their fatherland.

    Those who have the ears of the President should take this message to him. Were I as greedy as some of the men and women who work for him, I would have got across to him for consultancy. This is a product of 25 years experience in the field and ought not be sold cheap, but because I appreciate the good work that the President is doing, and realising that he deserves a second term, I decided to pass the message across free.

    My recommendation of Mbu stems from a realization that one sector that could stop his reelection bid is failure to tackle insecurity. If he sends our brilliant super, loyal CP there, the result would come so fast that whoever is pitched against the best performing President Nigeria has produced would be wasting his time.

  • Boko Haram blast kills 7, injures 3

    Boko Haram blast kills 7, injures 3

    MAIDUGURI – A bomb blast yesterday killed seven people in Kuthra, near Gwoza, Borno State.

    Three others were injured when a bus in which the dead and the injured were travelling ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) apparently planted by the Islamist sect,Boko Haram.

    State Police Commissioner Lawan Tanko confirmed the incident.

    He said the injured were receiving treatment in Gwoza.

    Gwoza is about 90 kilometers from Kawuri, a village where gunmen also believed to be extremists attacked the market last Sunday with guns and explosives, killing at least 85 people. They also left behind improvised explosive devices. Another Sunday attack at a church in Adamawa state, using explosives and guns, killed at least 45 people.

  • Boko Haram: Death toll in Borno, Adamawa hits 138

    Boko Haram: Death toll in Borno, Adamawa hits 138

    President: battle against sect ‘ll be more forceful

    Hours after Boko Haram struck in Borno and Adamawa states, grim details of the attacks emerged yesterday.

    The death toll rose from 74, which was reported yesterday, to 138.

    Eighty-five died in Kawuri village in Borno State, and 53 in Chakawa, Adamawa State.

    No fewer than 16 others are believed to be missing in Borno, it was learnt.

    Emerging details of the attacks indicated that the insurgents issued three warning letters to Kawuri community before they struck last Sunday, a survivor, Mallam Mohammed Tukur, said.

    Tukur said the assailants also destroyed houses, mosques and a market square, adding that they operated for six hours before troops arrived.

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was in Kawuri yesterday, amid tight security, for on-the-spot assessment.

    He saw the over 200 destroyed homes that were and promised to rebuild them. He also made financial pledge to the victims.

    Shettima, who visited the village with a high-powered delegation, took with him a large amount of relief materials and foodstuff which he distributed to affected residents.

    Addressing residents at the palace of the village head, he said the rebuilding of the destroyed village would be a priority.

    He announced that each family member of the slain residents, would get N250,000 each, bringing the total cash donation to N21.25 million.

    Shettima said about 1,500 units of food items and other relief materials would be distributed to the victims to alleviate the devastating effect of the attacks.

    The relief materials include 600 bags of rice, 30 bags of beans, 300 bags of maize, and 200 of blankets, mats and cartons of Maggie cubes, drugs and hospital essentials for the community health centre.

    The governor said: “All the 200 burnt houses, mosques and market are to be rebuilt.”

    The rebuilding of the demolished houses, he said, began yesterday.

    “I am also going to compensate for all the destroyed property in this village, but not the lives of 85 people destroyed by these insurgents. They are not true Muslims; They continue to destroy people’s lives and property, without any genuine cause. As long as the insurgents continue to destroy your houses and other property, the state government will also continue to rebuild them, as you have no other place to go; and live in this state.

    “Security will be intensified in this village. We will deploy more troops and policemen, so that your lives and property are adequately protected from the insurgents.”

    An official, Dala Lawan, put the death toll at 85.

    Lawan said 53 bodies were given mass burial. He said more bodies were still being found, adding that some of the injured have died. He said no fewer than 40 people were injured.

    Many lay in the hospital in Konduga, the main town in the area, nursing bullet wounds and burns.

    Suspected Boko Haram members stormed the Kawuri village weekly market, Sunday night, setting off explosives, shooting people and razing homes.

    Kawuri is about 70 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    The death toll of the attack on the Catholic Church in Chakawa village, has risen to 53, Chairman of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Mr Maina Ularamu, said yesterday.

    Ularamu said local officials counted 47 bodies, including those of two policemen. Many injured people are in hospitals, he added.

    The gunmen were armed with sophisticated weapons. They left after invading another border village, killing and maiming before fleeing to neighbouring Cameroun Republic.

    A resident, who spoke anonymously, said he counted about 53 bodies before they were evacuated to the morgue.

    Brigade Commander of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Yola, Brig. Gen. Rogers Nicholas, said he was yet to ascertain the death toll. He said the impact of the attack was minimal, adding that the military is on top of things.

    Residents said they were living in fear because more attacks could be launched.

    The spokesman of the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Rev. Fr. Raymond Danbouye, also confirmed that dozens were killed and buried after a funeral on Monday.

  • Why insurgents breach security, by Jonathan

    Why insurgents breach security, by Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday blamed “security lapses” for Islamic sect Boko Haram’s invasion of an Air Force Base in Borno State last December.

    Inaugurating the Air Force Comprehensive School in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, he said there was unnecessary rivalry among the security agencies, adding that this will no longer be tolerated.

    The President also spoke on why he picked Air Marshal Alex Badeh as Chief of Defence Staff, describing him as “a good manager of resources”.

    Noting that Boko Haram “successfully attacked” five helicopters, Jonathan warned the new Service chiefs against unnecessary rivalry, urging them to complement one another in the nation’s interest.

    He said: “We will work with them to make sure that we overcome these challenges. One of the reasons that made me to uplift the present Chief of Defence Staff from the Chief of Air Staff is that I noted very carefully that in terms of managing resources, he tried.

    “And I believe that with him now taking charge as the Chief of Defence Staff, working with other men that have been properly briefed about how they conduct their work, I know that the Nigerian Armed Forces will be a different Armed Forces.

    “I urge you to cooperate. Sometimes we hear about some kind of mutual and individual competition among Service Chiefs and security personnel. But this time around, we will not tolerate any unnecessary competition that will bring retrogression to this country.

    “We charge you to work together because our country is exposed to cancer and I told the former chief of defence staff when I came back from a meeting in France, that was the time they attacked our five helicopters, and a journalist asked me, Mr. President is it not shameful? And I asked him, If you were me, how would you have felt? And I believe we will no longer experience that kind of situation. That happened because of some obvious lapses.

    “We will make sure we work with the National Assembly, we will work with the Service Chiefs and other senior military personnel, we will work with our traditional rulers and governors and senior citizens to see that we move our country to the next level.”

    Air Marshal Badeh said the fight against insurgency was surmountable. He urged the security agencies to remain focused.

    He pledged to defend the nation’s territorial integrity in line with the provisions of the Constitution.

    According to him, the Air Force Comprehensive School project, which he described as the brainchild of the Air Force, was built on five hectares of land within seven months through direct labour.

    Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako said the insecurity in the state did not allow for a befitting reception for Jonathan.

    The President met with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state, who pledged their support for him towards the 2015 election.

    At the meeting were Deputy Governor James Ngiliri and Prof. Jubril Aminu, who took turns to thank the President for giving appointments to indigenes of the state.

    They pleaded for more attention to the state because it is trailing states like Gombe and Taraba in terms of infrastructure.

    The president was presented with two members of the House of Representatives, who announced their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP.

    The President, who claimed he was instrumental to the success of Governor Nyako, who is now APC in the 2011 elections, said he was overwhelmed by the turn out of partymen to receive him.

    He suggested the conduct of zonal rallies before aspirants and candidates emerge in order to reposition the party, noting:

    “We need to have zonal rallies before election. Before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opens doors for people to start campaigns for offices, let us have neutral rallies now that we don’t have aspirants and candidates. We will have zonal rallies, and we will encourage states to also have state rallies then we will also have the national convention. We need to do that to re-energise our party.”

    Also at the meeting were the immediate past National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Women Affairs Minister Hajia Zainab Maina and some members of National Assembly.

  • Why Boko Haram is still killing, by Oritsejafor

    Why Boko Haram is still killing, by Oritsejafor

    The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor yesterday said Boko Haram insurgence has continued to increase because some Nigerians do not tell the truth.

    Oritsejafor spoke in Abuja during a forum of Christian/Muslim interactive conference.

    He noted that Nigeria would be a better place, if people could eschew bitterness and eschew sacrificing truth on the altar of politics.

    His words: “It is my firm belief that Nigeria can be great if the over 160million of us resolve to be one another’s keeper and ready at all times to tell one another the truth.

    “In my opinion, this is the single ingredient mostly lacking in our national life. Because everyone wants to be politically correct, we constantly sacrifice truth.”

    The CAN President explained that the situation in the country had reached an alarming state because the people who are in position to say things as they are often fail to do so because they love to be applauded.

    He said: “Because we want people to applaud us, be acceptable, we run away from saying the truth even though we are convinced in the recess of our minds that it is the way to go.

    “At the end of the day, we are all the losers. Lies will never exalt a nation. If Nigeria must be on the path of greatness again, truth must be the foundation.”

    According to Oritsejafor, the Muslim-Christian dialogue was coming at the right time as “its fruits have the capacity to set an agenda for achieving the desired unity, peaceful and mutual respect for one another.”

    One of the facilitators, Alhaji Abdul Ahmed, said the onus lies with the religious leaders to end the loss of lives and wanton disruption of property in some parts of Northern states.

    He said at the centre of the festering crisis was the failure of the people to freely interact and find a common ground on some of the issues threatening the country.

     

  • Action, not talk

    Action, not talk

    We hope that the defence chief will end Boko Haram menace by April

    Nigerians must be hoping that the inaugural statement by the newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshall Alex Badeh, on the country’s precarious security situation, particularly relating to terrorist activities of Boko Haram, will not  prove  to be mere  bluster.

    Hopefully, it was not just the excitement of his new status that prompted Badeh’s dramatic words when he said, “The security situation in the North-East must be brought to a complete stop before April 2014. So please if there are any of them around, send words to your colleagues that they are in trouble; we are coming after them.”  However, perhaps unwittingly, he indicated the complexity of the task by his rhetorical flourish which suggested that members of the Islamist group could possibly be present at the ceremony. It is noteworthy that his remark, beyond the exaggerated colour, was reminiscent of President Goodluck Jonathan’s controversial comment sometime ago that Boko Haram had successfully infiltrated the government.

    In addition to the obvious developmental arrest resulting from terrorism, Badeh elaborated on factors that determined his deadline, saying, “I was telling my colleagues that we must bring it to a stop by April 2014 so that we do not have constitutional problems in our hands.” According to him, “We do not want to go back to the Senate and start begging and lobbying. If we do our work cohesively, I can say that General Minimah will finish that thing in no time.”

    What informed  his confidence is certainly unclear, but it is plain that his reasoning was based on the need to avoid legislative endorsement of a further  extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states , after the first round which started in May 2013,  and the current six-month addition from November. In other words, administrative reasons, rather than any solid grounds for optimism were responsible for his dream of crushing the insurgency by the April date.

    Without doubt, this non-combat basis cannot be sufficient justification for buoyancy, considering the worrying fact that since 2009 the rebels have continued to perpetrate stunning acts of destruction without any significant pause. It remains to be seen whether Badeh’s tenure will indeed make a difference to the presidency’s counter-terrorism campaign.

    It is disturbing that, perhaps in his enthusiasm to sound prepared for the function, he allowed his emotion to take over. He possibly started on a wrong note by making such a definite declaration. It is a well-known fact that surprise is a key element in warfare, which Badeh did not seem to appreciate as his publicised words were capable of alerting the terrorists to the possibility of danger. Was it necessary for him to announce, as he did, that his battle plan is to end the conflict by a specific time? What advantage, if any, did he hope to get from such openness? With such approach to intelligence issues, does he expect the terrorists to wait to be defeated by April?

    It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time a high-profile security figure, or even a political bigwig, would make such a politically correct statement on ending the fighting within the time frame of the emergency.  Tragically, the advertised intention is far from materialisation, and the immediate targets of the rebels as well as the larger society continue to experience the pains of insecurity.

    Regrettably, the Boko Haram challenge remains potent, in spite of the government’s efforts. This reality calls for greater creativity and firmness of purpose on the side of the political authorities. The government must not allow the chilling carnage carried out remorselessly by the group to drag on. Action, not talk, is the solution.

  • The anomie in Rivers State

    The anomie in Rivers State

    SIR: The once flourishing Rivers State, known as the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation’ has suddenly become the ‘Violence Base of the Nation’. Regrettably, a state that breathes life into most states and Aso Rock is currently bruised, battered, shattered, and suffocated, waiting for its obituary announcement to be published.

    While trouble drizzles in other states, it pours in Rivers. Rivers State has lost its relative calmness, charm, serenity and allure to bad and uncouth politics. Everything with the semblance of governance has fallen apart in the state. The thread of unity that once bound the people of Rivers has since been severed by petty politics, greed and narrow interest

    Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi’s beautiful dreams, people-based economic blueprint and hope of a better Rivers have all gone with the winds. His transformation train code named ‘The New Rivers State’ has joined the list of halted or failed projects. Not for Governor Amaechi’s incompetence, but for the evil machinations of a higher authority and personalities.

    Peace departed Rivers ever since the self-acclaimed Mama Peace Patience Jonathan swore never to allow it a place in the state. True to her words, hardly a day passes that both local and international media are not awash with unpalatable occurrences spewing out of the state. Tension has become a permanent feature of the state.

    Having lost Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to Boko Haram insurgency, Rivers is undoubtedly gearing hard to increase the number of states taken over by troublemakers. What we read about in the papers on the happenings in Rivers state is not any different from what is obtained in the north east. The Rivers state legislature is more or less on break. No serious legislative activity has been reported in recent times. The House, mainly of legislators loyal to Amaechi had to convene within the Rivers state Government House to enable the Amaechi led government present the state’s 2014 budget estimate.

    While the anti-Amaechi camp gets its backing, funding and support from Aso Rock, its foot soldiers, led by President Goodluck Jonathan’s political godson, who doubles as the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike have vowed to make Rivers State ungovernable. On the security front, Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu is doing more harm to the already battered image of the Nigerian Police Force through his brazen unprofessional conducts.

    We have lost Rivers state to troublemakers. It appears those responsible for the raging political crisis in the state are not bothered. President Jonathan, the number one Chief Security Officer of the nation, on whose shoulders the security of lives and property of all Nigerians rest is busy globe-trotting, junketing, oiling his political machinery ahead of 2015 and fiddling while Rivers burns. All that matters to him and his foot soldiers is for Amaechi to be completely out of the way. Thanks to the media, civil rights groups and other respected opinion leaders who have constantly opposed plans to bundle Amaechi out of power, either by hook or by crook.

    It seems the Jonathan government isn’t aware of the negative impression the war in Rivers state could have on the nation and his government. I know he’s a man who hardly gives a ‘damn’ or attach seriousness to germane issues. Why is he so interested in seeing the premature end of Amaechi’s political career? Is Amaechi the political Wall of Jericho he has to pull down to return to Aso Rock in 2015?

    • Abdullahi Yunusa

    Imane, Kogi State

     

  • Reps to probe arrest of 320 BokoHaram suspects in Rivers

    •Immigration, police screen suspects

    The House of Representatives has directed its Police and Human Rights Committee to investigate the arrest of 320 suspected Boko Haram members in Rivers State.

    The resolution followed the passage of a motion by Deputy Minority Leader Abdularahman Kawu. He said on January 26, the Rivers State Police Command arrested 320 persons on the suspicion that they were Boko Haram members.

    Kawu said: “The arrest of the alleged Boko Haram members has raised serious tension in the security circle and the polity, besides raising several issues that require immediate attention of well-meaning Nigerians for the security, economy and political well-being of the country and its citizens.

    “The arrested persons were in Rivers for legitimate businesses, as most of them were petty traders and menial job seekers in search of their means of livelihood.

    “Such manner of arrests and injustice portends obvious danger that is capable of breeding political instability to the already overheated polity. This is because the suspects were known to be law-abiding citizens.

    The lawmaker quoted Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, saying this guarantees that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria.

    Kawu said: “This is not the first the ‘suspects’ were in Rivers State. They had been there severally in search of legitimate means of livelihood.”

    The lawmaker accused the Rivers State Police Command of jettisoning its primary responsibility of protecting the citizenry from harassment.

    He said: “If no urgent step is taken, such arrests by the Rivers State Police Command may bring about political instability, insecurity, and may as well lead to the breakdown of law and order, thereby posing a threat to the country’s existence.”

    The motion received overwhelmingly support when it was put to voice vote by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

    Also, the Speaker raised a delegation, led by Majority Whip Ishaka Bawa, to visit victims of January 14 Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri.

    Fifty persons died in the attack.

    All 10 lawmakers from Borno State, Nkoyo Toyo and seven others are in the delegation.

    They will commiserate with victims of the January 14 attack.

    Men of the Rivers State Police Command and the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) are collaborating to screen/investigate Boko Haram suspects who were arrested in the state last Sunday, it was learnt yesterday.

    Three hundred and twenty suspected insurgents were reportedly arrested at various locations last Sunday in 17 buses from Jigawa State.

    They were reportedly arrested between the borders of Imo and Rivers states on the suspicion that they were members of the Boko Haram sect.

    It was learnt that elders and executives of Hausa community in the state have identified some of the suspects as traders.

    They urged the police to release the suspects.

    The police command and the NIS said they were probing the suspects to ascertain their nationality and genuineness before they could be released.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Members of the Hausa community have identified some of the suspects. They are now being screened by the police and Immigration Services to separate the wheat from the chaff.

    “I think they are not just being screened for suspected Boko Haram activities but the nationality of some of them is in doubt. That suggests the involvement of the Immigration in the investigation.

    “You are aware that most of these persons, who parade themselves here as Hausa, are actually from the neighbouring Niger Republic. This exercise will fish them out.”

    The screening began on Monday afternoon on the premises of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

    Also, members of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in the Southsouth/Southeast zone, on Monday, described the arrest of the suspects as mistaken identity.

    Their Coordinator Alhaji Musa Saidu said the suspects were erroneously tagged Boko Haram members.

    According to him, those arrested are traders returning to Port Harcourt after buying some goods to sell in the North.

    Saidu said some of the suspects had been residents in the city for a long time, adding that prominent northern leaders in Rivers State, including the Sarakin Hausawa (Hausa leader), had identified them.

    He urged the police to ensure a thorough investigation on the matter to know the truth.

    “The people arrested are not members of the Boko Haram. They are traders who do business here in Rivers State. They all travelled to the North to buy wares and they were returning to Rivers State when they were arrested by the police.

    “The news in the major dailies, on Monday, that 320 suspected Boko Haram members were arrested by the police in Rivers State, is false. Those arrested are northern traders who have lived in Port Harcourt for over 30 years…”

  • Jonathan isn’t serious about Boko Haram war, says Nda-Isaiah

    Jonathan isn’t serious about Boko Haram war, says Nda-Isaiah

    Leadership publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan is lukewarm in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

    He said this is because the insurgents are operating in an area (the Northeast) where “he thinks he cannot win election.”

    Nda-Isaiah spoke during a visit to The Nation headquarters in Lagos.

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Niger State-born publisher has been linked with the 2015 presidential race. But he said yesterday it was not yet time to speak on his ambition.

    Nda was received by the newspaper’s management team at the boardroom where he also fielded some questions.

    He said: “Jonathan does not want to fight Boko Haram because it is not in an area he thinks he can win election.

    “Fighting Boko Haram is simple. There are equipment that can show where the elements are and we can afford them and track these peoples’ hideouts.

    “Why have they not been able to jail a single person? Tell me one known name they have caught? It is obvious these persons are not Nigerians because no Nigerian will want to go and bomb a market when he is not sure if his relative will be there.

    “So, if many of them are from Chad and Niger Republic, how come they so easily operate in Nigeria? It is clear that they do not want to stop it,” he said.

    Nda-Isaiah hopedthat the APC will win the 2015 Presidential election adding: “it is time for big dreams.”

    He decried the amount of money the country has spent on the power sector without commensurate generation of electricity.

    “The amount spent on power is enough to give us 20,000 megawatts. We are still talking about 4,000 megawatts, when South Africa is improving on its 40,000 megawatts.

    “Nigeria is too divided and this division is caused by the leadership. Good leadership is achievable and possible and it depends on whether we want it or not.”

     

  • Tempo against Boko Haram will change – Jonathan

    Tempo against Boko Haram will change – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday assured that the tempo against the Boki Haram sect will change with the appointment of new service chiefs.
    He gave the assurance while paying homage to the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, at the palace in Adamawa.
    Stressing that the excesses of the violent group will be curtailed, The President expressed condolence to the people of Adamawa State over those who recently lost their lives due to the insurgency.
    About 72 persons were reportedly killed in two attacks in Adamawa and Borno on Monday.
    Jonathan said, “Let me also congratulate you for producing the current Chief of Defence Staff for the country. He is somebody I have worked with before and I believe with him and the other service chiefs definitely the security equation will change. They have not been cleared by the National Assembly, but I believe that will be done this week.
    “I believe by next week we will have our first Security Council meeting and I believe that the tempo will change. The police working with the armed forces, the excess of Boko Haram will be reduced.”
    Jonathan added: “Let me on behalf of my delegation sincerely thank you for your reception and again for me and members of my cabinet. We have to thank you very sincerely for your commitments in ensuring that as a nation we live in unity and peace.
    “It is quite a challenging period for our traditional rulers and religious leaders and opinion leaders because of the security challenges we have especially in the north eastern part of this country. Let me on behalf of the government, express our condolences to the families of the people that have died in this unnecessary Book Haram insurgence over this period. Only three days ago, on Sunday, people were killed carelessly, some while worshiping.”
    “These things were never part of our country before this time. These things are very alien to us or because these days they say the world is a global village so the bad habit travel faster than the good ones. Nigeria is getting its share of the terror. God willing Nigeria will overcome these challenges. We express our condolences to you, members of the emirate council and indeed all the people of Adamawa State.”