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Tag: insurgency

  • Post insurgency: Yobe holds humanitarian submit for key actors

    Post insurgency: Yobe holds humanitarian submit for key actors

    As part of its post insurgency and recovery plan for the Boko Haram insurgency in the state, Yobe State Government  has convened a humanitarian submit for all stakeholders in the humanitarian community to discuss better ways of humanitarian coordination in the state.

    The submit which took place in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital at the WAWA Hall of Government House Damaturu has the theme, Consolidating Humanitarian Recovery Plans.

    The event which was put together by the State Committee for Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation headed by the State Deputy Gov. Engr. Abubakar Aliyu brought together all humanitarian actors in the state including traditional rulers, local government chairmen, Civil Societies Organizations, Faith Based Organizations across the state.

    In his address to the event, the State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said the meeting is a positive step towards having a master plan of intervention that will mitigate wastages and duplication of efforts which will have direct impact on the victims.

    “…we however believe that a streamlined and well-coordinated intervention in humanitarian support and socio-economic assistance will maximize the desired impact on the victims, reduce wastage and ensure value for money. This therefore informs the need to have an intervention master plan such that no felt need of the victims shall be left out, or assistance of any agency or organization discounted,” Gov. Gaidam said.

    The governor also stated that the assistance being received from International and local donor agencies have been a source of consolation for him and the people of the state.

    Speaking on the enormity and scale of the crisis and its attendant consequences, Gov. Gaidam noted that, given the monumental humanitarian crises before us, no government, agency or Non-Governmental Organization, however endowed, can handle the situation alone”, which is while the gathering was convoked.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam also observed that the task of rebuilding, and rehabilitation of the destroyed communities by the Boko Haram insurgents will be made easier as according to him the committee has, “set the stage that will provide window of opportunity to governments, Development partners, inter-governmental Organizations, humanitarian bodies and individual to identify and explore areas of interventions”

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of Yobe State Committee for the Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Victims of Boko Haram, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu said his committee was faced with conflicting demands due to lack of proper coordination and understanding among the affected people and the actors involved.

    He stated that the lack of an effective synergy and coordination of all agencies and actors in the humanitarian activities in the state informed the need for the committee to put up the summit, stressing that a comprehensive document is expected to be produce that will be called ‘Yobe State Government Post Insurgency Integrated Intervention Plan’, encompassing all the various sector of the intervention.

    Engr. Aliyu called on all participants to give out their best so as to achieve the objective of the meeting for the victims of terror in the state.

    Goodwill messages were presented by other actors in the humanitarian community including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Victim Support Funds (VSF), Presidential Committee on North East Initiative(PCNI), etc.

     

  • ‘Insurgency is a blessing in disguise’

    ‘Insurgency is a blessing in disguise’

    Dr. Shettima Kulima is the Executive Chairman, Borno State Universal Basic Education Board.  In this interview with DUKU JOEL in Maiduguri, the BSUBEB chief said the Boko Haram crisis had opened a new vista in the drive for transformation of education in the state.  

    WHAT has changed since the Boko Haram attacks on schools in Borno State?

    Sincerely speaking, Boko Haram madness has come to be like a blessing in disguise for the people of Borno State. We are not looking at the scale of destructions, devastation, carnage, maiming, the mayhems and all other concomitant problems; rather, we are looking at the positive side. While some people are using this as an escape route not to work, in the case of Borno, we are using the crisis to promote our own development.

    Can you explain what you are doing to achieve that?

    Here, I want to laud the determination, enthusiasm and political will of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State. When he assumed the mantle of leadership in 2011, there were three years non-accessed matching grant funds from UBEC and he quickly upset that by paying the three- yearcounterpart funds. As at now, Borno is the best performing state in SUBEB rating for 2015 and 2016 consecutively. This is to say that we have up to date counterpart funds paid to access the matching grants from UBEC. Looking at what Borno is collecting from the Federation Account and the challenges it faces at the moment, such as feeding IDPs, reconstructions of the destroyed communities, and paying this counterpart funds of N2 to N3 billion at a time like this deserves a kudos.

    Could you speak on the government’s schools for the orphans?

    The government has selected 50 girls from the IDPs camps and sent them to the Zaria Academy to study at the Junior Secondary School. We have signed an MoU with the school and they will proceed to the Senior Secondary School after three years of the Junior Secondary School. So, they are going to stay in Zaria for six years and the government will sponsor their education up to the university.The number of orphans in Borno is alarming. Statistics say over 400,000 children were orphaned by the Boko Haram crisis. The governor has, therefore, established a school for orphans. The school still under construction is made up of a 40 classroom complex capable of accommodating 3000 pupils.

    How is the government addressing the challenges at the basic level?

    One remarkable achievement of the administration after the Boko Haram crisis is the massive construction of primary schools. These constructions are not only going on, there is also the modernisation of the existing facilities. To my delight, the governor has designed a cradle as the classroom of Borno State in the next year to come and the classroom was even applauded by a Norwegian Ambassador who visited Borno sometimes ago. We have PoP in our classes and the space is expanded to carry no fewer than 50 pupils at a time.

    I understand that Borno State is building what they called mega schools. Can you tell us what it’s all about?

    Apart from the modernisation of the classroom, there is one particular feat that we have achieved in the education sector.  We have conceived this idea of Mega Schools. A Mega School is a magnificent edifice with a block of eight classrooms story building x three in a particular location making 34 classrooms at a time with an administrative block and 10 offices.

    Besides, there are two VIP toilets, which are highly modernised with each one having 16 compartments. To provide wash facilities, a solar borehole was sunk in the school to provide enough water for the pupils. Research has shown that one of the causes of female dropouts in schools is as a result of lack of wash and sanitation facilities. There is one kitchen outdoor which we use for the free feeding programme in line with the Federal Government free feeding policy in schools. We have also introduced a meal per day to boost enrolment and retention of the pupils. The schools will have also solar power to provide 24 hours light in the schools.

  • ‘It‘s sad to see your community lose everything to insurgency’

    A Maiduguri documentary photographer, Fati Abubakar, 31, who is holding an exhibition titled: Bits of Borno: Bruised, Not Broken  at Omenka Gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos, says it is traumatising to see the community she grew up in lose everything to insurgency. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports. 

    Is the exhibition designed to change the narrative about Borno State?
    Exactly, and what really inspired me was the fact that a lot of images coming out of Borno only focused on the conflict and I was unhappy with how we were being portrayed only as a conflict zone. So, I decided to start a project where people can see the everyday life of people living in Bornu State that they are surviving even in the midst of adversity. That was my main reason for the project.
    What inspired you as a photographer?
    I have a background in health. When I was doing my Public Health programme, I was introduced to using media for addressing issues within a community. So, I was able to take that and bring it to my community; and of course mainstream media focus has been on the conflict. I just felt that there are untold stories from Borno State.
    Why are the works not titled?
    It was deliberate. We want people to think about what they are seeing, to decide for themselves what the image is saying. So, it is very much open to interpretation; that is why the images are untitled.
    How representative are the photographs of the reality in Borno?
    I just felt that people needed to see bits and pieces of Borno. That is why the title of the exhibition is: Bits of Borno. As I said, when you google Maiduguri you will to see a lot of stories of conflicts. That is available to everyone, but we run the risk of being defined by what other people think has happened, and there are a lot of other stories that are unexplored, like these people who have survived. There was a point in time people thought that there was no one walking around in Maiduguri. So, it is important for them to see faces of these people who have survived. That is why the series is called the Face Series, so that we can see the faces of those that survived.
    How much of your experience of the conflict reflect in the collection?
    You know when you live there, it is very unpredictable and there is a lot of tension. So, I would say that my experiences have been similar to all the ones that people living within there have experienced. Some days there are bomb blasts; other days there is gun firing. But being able to live even amidst all that, and there hasn’t been danger or whatsoever that I have experienced. But I have seen a lot of dead bodies; I have seen bomb blast happening; and I have seen gunshots, people losing everything. So, my experiences are similar.
    To be honest, it is very traumatising and it is very sad; a community you grew up in now lost everything and is struggling with the economy and schools burnt down. It is very difficult to adjust. So, it is very traumatising. A lot of people have lost close family members and friends. For instance, my mother lost her best friend who was shot in her kitchen. Those are really traumatic experiences for us. Even if you did not lose somebody close to you, the fact that your whole community is torn apart is incredibly depressing.
    What is your take on the exhibition
    My theme is showing the peoples’ resilience. I want people to see my people from Borno State as strong and very keen to move on. They have experienced a lot of trauma, but they are surviving. That is what I want people to know.
    It is a counter narrative; we want people to be comfortable knowing that people still live there. Whatever is meant to happen to you will happen anywhere. We don’t want people to feel like if they come to Borno State their life will end after all there are people living there.
    How did you cope with the challenges of documenting the different places, people and scenes in the midst of a bombings?
    As a photographer, my experience has been fairly easy because I speak the local dialect, which is Kanuri, and people are very comfortable. You know, when you engage people in conversation in their local dialect, it makes them more comfortable and they are able to trust you; and it is a community that I am very familiar with. So, it was fairly easy.
    Explaining further on the exhibition, she said: “We had a small one in Maiduguri, we continued in Abuja and we are here in Lagos. We will be going back to Maiduguri for the grand finale on March 1 to 3.
    How long will the exhibition run?
    I have not really given it a life span. I want it to be an ongoing project, but what I am doing is to teach other people so that they can continue with it if.
    Other challenges?
    Well, the challenges have been cultural because it is something that has never been done before, and for me being a female I had to face the issues where people don’t know how to deal with female in a certain profession. And art wasn’t viewed as a profession, so I struggled to make them understand what I was doing. And of course we have the military presence there, so it is very tense. I had to remove my fear so that the story had to be told. Also, not many people, sometimes, are open to being photographed; and because it is an extremely hot desert environment. So, as a photographer the hot weather can be traumatising and it takes its toll on you. I want the publication to be a coffee table book. Fifty years from now, I want people reference it as these are the stories of the people who lived in Borno at a certain time.

  • Shettima calls security meeting on renewed insurgency

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima at the weekend summoned an emergency security meeting following the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in some parts of the state.

    A statement by Shettima’s media aide, Isa Gusau, said the closed meeting was attended by heads of security agencies.

    The statement added that Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, briefed the governor on recent attacks and ongoing military operations while discussions centred on the wave of suicide attacks following the dismantling of Boko Haram stronghold in Sambisa Forest.

    The statement reads: “At the end of meeting, new guard locations were established in some routes to curtail the movement of remnants of Boko Haram fighters; deployment of security personnel in various locations were increased with more members of Civilian JTF (youth volunteers involved) while the Governor approved the release of additional patrol vehicles to security agencies for increased surveillance.

    “The governor also approved logistics to compliment the Federal Government’s efforts in strengthening the Armed Forces while measures were adopted to strengthen the Civilian JTF and hunters.

    “The meeting also reviewed synergy between formal Armed Forces and volunteers with steps adopted to increase collaboration and clamp down cattle rustling.”

    The over three-hour meeting, at the council chambers of the Government House, was attended by the G.O.C 7 Division Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu; Commander 79 Composite Group of the Air Force, Air Commodore Charles Oho; Commissioner of Police Damien Chukwu; Garrison Commander, 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. Jibrin G. Mohammed; Director of the Department of State Services (SSS), Suleiman Kankia; Commandant of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ibrahim Abdullahi; Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Usman Jidda Shuwa, and others.

  • ‘Borno lost over 6b dollars to insurgency’

    Borno State Home Affairs, Information and Culture Commissioner Muhammed Bulama has said the state lost over six billion dollars to Boko Haram insurgency.

    He described the proposed Northeast Development Commission as a partner in rebuilding the region.

    Bulama said nine billion dollars worth of property was lost by three states, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, adding that Borno lost about six billion dollars.

    He spoke at the opening of a photography exhibition titled: “Bits of Borno: Bruised, Not Broken”, by photojournalist Miss Fati Abubakar.

    The event was held at Omenka Gallery, Lagos.

    The travelling exhibition, organised by Borno State, in collaboration with USAID and NERI, took place on January 27 to 30 in Abuja and will hold in Maiduguri on March 1.

    Bulama said: “The scale of destruction is much, which Borno State and other two states cannot shoulder. They do not have the capacity and resources to bear the burden of insurgency. My state is doing its best to redress the situation by winding up Internally Displaced Persons’ camps and repairing infrastructures.”

    He said the state was using documentaries, inauguration of development projects and cultivation of good relationship with media establishments, among others, to change the situation, adding that it will build a solid foundation upon which successive administrations would improve.

    “When this foundation is built, sustaining it will not be a challenge. Insurgency has taught us a big lesson. We can no longer take anything for granted. The state is investing in youths, education and agriculture,” the commissioner said.

  • UNHCR flags off shelter kits distribution to IDPs in Yobe

    UNHCR flags off shelter kits distribution to IDPs in Yobe

    The United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) has begun the distribution of building materials under its Shelter Kits Intervention Programme for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe State.

    This intervention is coming barely a week after the State Chairman of the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement Committee, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who is also Deputy Governor of Yobe State made a clarion call on donor agencies to shift from food donations to displaced people to assisting them with materials that will enhance their livelihoods.

    During the flag off ceremonies which took place separately at the two most hit Boko Haram local government areas of Gujba and Gulani in the state, community leaders of the two local government areas expressed their deep appreciation to the UNHCR, describing the intervention as timely.

    The Chairman Gujba Local government, Alhaji Kyari Batrema called on humanitarian agencies to stretch their intervention to every nook and crany of the local government especially the eastern part of the council where he said are gradually returning due to improved security in the areas.

    He called on his people to always give humanitarian workers and the security operatives the needed cooperation to succeed in their job.

    The Yobe State Head Office of UNHCR, Mr. Gabriel Idoko expressed his gratitude over the cooperation of the State Government in providing a good platform for a better coordinating of humanitarian activities in the state.

    He noted that, UNHCR will continue to partner with the state government in most desirable areas of intervention for victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr. Idoko explained that the Shelter Kits Intervention Programme is designed to help the displaced people return to their communities in a more dignified manner.

    “What UNHCR is doing here today is to help these people who were displaced by the Boko Haram crisis to return to their communities in a more dignified way.

    “As you can see, most of the beneficiaries here had their houses destroyed and we believe with a shelter on your head, you can think better. Shelter is an important aspect, of recovery from this crisis,” Mr. Idoko explained.

    As a way of discouraging the beneficiaries from selling the items, Mr. Idoko disclosed that, each beneficiary is provided with a cash of N30, 000 to assist them pay for labour and other family needs.

    He disclosed that a total of 500 house, 300 from Gujba and 200 from Gulani were selected to benefit from the programme.

    Each household, according to him will receive 4 bags of cement; two bundles of zinc roofing sheets; different roofing rafters, roofing and timber nails among building materials.

    Head of External Relations/Public Information   UNHCR, Mr. Hanson Ghandi Tamfu said “this intervention is strategic because to us at the United Nations, assisting the displaced people to rebuild their shelter will allow them settle down and begin to fashion out other ingenuous means of their survival”.

    On his part, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Alhaji Idi Jidawa called on the benefiacies not to sale the items but rather use them for the purpose they were meant.

    The Yobe State SEMA boss while emphasising the plea of the deputy Gov called on donor agencies to look more into donations materials that will impact directly on the resettlement of the people as they return to their communities.

  • ‘Northeast lost $9.6b to insurgency’

    ‘Northeast lost $9.6b to insurgency’

    The Northeast lost $9.6 billion to the Boko Haram insurgency, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, has said.

    Shettima, who spoke at the National Assembly yesterday, lamented that the region had the lowest human development index even before insurgency.

    The governor spoke on behalf of his colleagues who are pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the North East Development Commission (NEDC) bill into law.

    He noted that the commission will address economic devastation in the zone when it takes off.

    The bill was passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly last year.

    The governor lamented that Borno State lost about $6.7 billion to the insurgency, with over 400 houses destroyed.

    He added that about 5000 secondary and primary schools, and 200 primary health centres and hospitals, were destroyed by the insurgents.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara observed that the challenges posed by the insurgency were enormous.

    According to him, the bill, when enacted, will address poverty, unemployment and youth restiveness in the zone.

    He noted that the commission will address development issues better than what normal budgetary appropriation could tackle.

    President of the Senate Bukola Saraki assured the governors that President Buhari will assent to the bill without delay.

    Saraki urged stakeholders in the zone to ensure the success of the commission through prudent management of resources when it begins operation.

  • UNICEF: education a priority after insurgency

    UNICEF: education a priority after insurgency

    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said investing in the education of children in the Northeast would be its top priority when the Boko Haram insurgency ends.
    Chief Field Officer in Maiduguri, Mr. Geoffray Ijumba, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “investing in education will safeguard the future of the millions of children in the region.”
    According to him, UNICEF has executed works to improve the health conditions of victims of the insurgency, especially the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
    He said: “In the coming years, education will be UNICEF’s number one priority to secure the future of children in the Northeast.
    “After everybody has packed his baggage and left, after the insurgency, UNICEF will be here. This is because education is one of the investments that will make a huge difference in the future of the children.
    “Teachers, books and safe environment will be our main focus.”

  • APGA hails Buhari for victory over insurgency

    APGA hails Buhari for victory over insurgency

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government for winning the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

    The party, however, called on the government to use practical approaches that are less confrontational to resolve the Niger Delta crisis and kidnapping.

    A statement by the National Director of Publicity, Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, said: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) wishes its members, supporters and Nigerians a pleasant and remarkable New Year, as well as a hopeful and glorious 2017.

    “The party urges Nigerians to learn to show care and love to one another by being their brothers and sister’s keeper. And to always engage in things that will promote peace, common good and general interest of the country.

    “APGA implores politicians, especially the elected officials at all levels of governance, to be altruistic in their services and sensitive to the suffering and needs of the people, in order to extenuate the man-made and unacceptable harsh economic cum social conditions Nigerians are subjected to at present.

    “Though the party resolved, at the inception of this administration, not to criticise the APC-led government without any justifiable reason, later events have, however, given the party cause for concern.

    “Thus, APGA is worried, for example, that the Federal Government is treating it’s anti-corruption war as a replacement for the normal government function of governance. This approach has to be really changed if the APC government is to turn round the faltering and depressing economy. While there is improvement in the war against Boko Haram, new theatres are opening in the Southeast and Southsouth, mostly because of the government’s poor handling of the hitherto minor agitation.

    “The party calls on the government to use practical approaches that are less confrontational to resolve the issues. The development in the Niger Delta calls for concern; the Federal Government must find constructive ways of engagement and resolution of the issues that gave rise to the recent upsurge in militancy.

    “If disruption of oil supplies continues in this 2017, the economy will be crippled and Nigerians, especially the less privileged, will be the worse for it than it experienced in the preceding year.”

  • Insurgency: Let’s pat brave troops on the back

    Insurgency: Let’s pat brave troops on the back

    I am ok. God is in control. Maiduguri is safe now and life has returned fully.”
    This was the response from a colleague, an award winning journalist. I rang him to find out the security situation in Borno State and Adamawa. He missed my call, and I sent him a text. His response quoted above became a decider for two families resolved to hold back their graduating sons who were North-east bound on mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. They expressed grave anxiety about their safety in the front line states of Boko Haram insurgency.
    While their sons were zealous to adorn the national colours and wanted to proceed with their call up letters, their parents refused to let go. Their fear was understood.
    Realising I could provide some needed information, patriarch of one of the families dialled me, and that resolved the impasse.
    Writing from Boko Haram frontlines in the North-east, my colleague had won several media awards reporting for one of the popular national dailies. He knows virtually all the flash points in the region and his informed situation report can hardly be faulted.
    Therefore, when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, in his recent motivational message, told troops that December was a month of decision, it was not an empty boast. If anything, he was acknowledging troops’ exploits in significantly decimating the potency of the terrorists, and strongly believes in their capacity to finish the terrorists off.
    For a military that had in recent past shirked from battle before the deadly terrorists, it is not out of place to celebrate to high heaven their new found courage under the leadership of Buratai. How do we sustain troops’ success in many fronts and ensure lasting security in the villages?
    In this unconventional war, the military would liberate villages hitherto under Boko Haram siege, occupy, and maintain the areas. They would also protect the IDP camps, provide security for convoys and people passing through the routes that have been cleared. In all fairness, the military have been overstretched. Yet, some critics find it convenient to criticise rather than encourage Buratai and his men.
    We must not forget in a hurry what the security situation in the region had been, and realise that a lot have been achieved in the insurgency war since Buratai mounted the saddle as Chief of Army Staff about a year ago.
    Those who are in Maiduguri know that the checkpoints all over town are all gone as the military are all about the township, and there’s a lot of confidence in the people today that they could now sleep and wake up with their eyes closed.
    Three remaining local governments in Damasak axis of Borno including Kalabalge, Abadam and Morkpa have been entirely liberated. In the Konduga axis, the military have been up and running, going in and coming out every now and then. And lately, they have turned on the heat on the much dreaded Sambisa forest, combing the areas while the Airforce sustained their interminable air raids within the past two months. For every operation troops carried out, they destroyed over four to five villages of Boko Haram, killed hundreds of their members, and liberated thousands of captive natives including children and women.
    Buratai with his troops has embarked on a final aggressive action and comprehensive sweep of all fortresses, camps, dens and enclaves of the criminals to completely flush them out and dominate these areas to ensure they are not reoccupied.
    It is for this reason that his message to troops about a week ago is reassuring. He wrote: “I hope to be with you sometime this month – December, to motivate and positively influence the ongoing operations. This is with a view to having a colourful end of year and peaceful Yuletide in the North-east and indeed Nigeria.
    “I urge all commanders to plan and embark on effective patrols, raids, ambushes and deliberate attacks in conjunction with other Services especially the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy, to rescue all those abducted by the terrorists.
    “I also wish to remind all troops that captured and surrendered Boko Haram terrorists must be treated humanely and fairly and in strict accordance with the provisions of International Humanitarian Law and Laws of Armed Conflict,” he said.
    “I wish to reiterate that December is a month of decision. It is either we succeed in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists or we continue to live in perpetual circle of their atrocities in the North-East.
    “I, hereby, want to reassure all troops that I intend to return everybody to Barracks in 2017 only leaving behind a strong, highly mobile, effective and motivated force that will continue to do the good work that we have already started,” he said.
    Buratai had before now rekindled the morale of troops, paying all allowances and benefits of soldiers hitherto withheld by their superior. To further get them more committed to their military career, the military headquarters has directed Army Post-Housing Development Directorate to work out modalities for housing scheme for all soldiers, mostly those exposed to ongoing anti-terrorism fight. If the housing scheme scales through, all military personnel may own their personal houses on retirement.
    Massive renovation of residential and office accommodations, building of new military barracks being undertaken across the country are some of the ambitious projects to change fortunes of the military across the country.
    The Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia Kaduna State, Office of the Military Secretary, Army Barracks building in Oturkpo Benue State, massive renovations of military barracks across Lagos and the entire South-west and many more are some of the projects embarked upon by the military leadership.
    In equal measure, the military helmsman has demonstrated keen preference for peaceful resolution of ethnic agitations using alternative means other than coercive use of legitimate force.
    Always urging troops deployed to volatile areas to exercise caution and restraint against the use of force, Buratai has repeatedly warned all military personnel to respect the rights of law abiding citizens in their areas of operation.
    For him, the civilian populace are critical to the success of every military operation, and therefore must be treated with respect as partners in business.
    A practical demonstration of how Buratai’s military dearly regarded civilian populace could be seen in his free healthcare delivery services to civilian populace in many communities in Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states. Now, Imo State has been added to the number.
    In addition to this, soldiers have gone out of their line of duty to rescue kidnap victims in the volatile states including Imo, Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, Abia, and many more. They have been able to tame abductions and kidnappings that had become a daily ritual in these regions.
    For this government, two major achievements even the most virile critic of the administration cannot deny are the exploits of the Buratai-led military in counter-terrorism fight, and the Ibrahim Magu-led ambitious fight against corruption. Those behind this isolated success story of restoring hitherto elusive peace and security in the North-east and other hotbeds of crime like Niger Delta, Arepo in Ogun State, and parts of Lagos State ought to be celebrated.
    In fighting this unconventional war, it is important to appreciate that security is everyone’s responsibility. Working out a system of safeguarding returnees in their homes, farms and markets is as important as food assistance.
    Therefore, North-east leaders, the police, DSS, the Interior Ministry and other stakeholders should join hands with the military to put in place a security arrangement within the communities to protect lives and property in areas liberated by gallant soldiers. The battle is not Buratai’s alone.
    •Mgboji wrote in from Lagos.