Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has attributed fresh, high profile attacks by Boko Haram in the North East to the support of “some individuals.”
Buratai said this at the sideline of a meeting with a security delegation from the Atlantic Council, African Centre in the United States of America.
“We have some elements, who are within this society who are still supporting them clandestinely. So the support of every Nigerian is very key to the end of this terrorism.”
He noted that the role of the Nigerian Army in prosecuting the counter-terrorism crusade in the North East has been misinterpreted by some people.
“There have been many misgivings on the role of the army as it relates to rights abuses, rules of engagement (as well as) treatment of civilians and Internally Displaced Persons IDPs. Hence, the need to conduct an assessment of the threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria with emphasis on roles of (the) army, which has become imperative,” he said.
Leader of the security delegation, John Peter-Pham emphasised need to cut the financial lifeline of terrorists.
“As an American and as an analyst, I believe that there are few fights currently going on in the world today and that is important, not only to Nigeria, but, to its neighbours in the international community as the repression of terrorist financing which has not only caused untold human suffering but also, its a setback for regional integration and economic growth.”
The meeting, which took place on Monday, at the Army Resource Centre in Abuja, was convened to assess threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
Two days ago, Buratai called for close scrutiny of utterances of some individuals in the country.
The army chief said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to defend acquisition of disputed land in the territory by the army.
At the Senate parley on Monday and although he did not give further details, Buratai said some responses and utterances by highly-placed individuals in the country were posing serious threats to national security.
“The fight against Boko Haram is a matter of concern to us. What we are going to witness today will be an eye opener.
“Although we have had cases of officers killed, this time calls for closer scrutiny of responses by individuals and organisations to national security. We must take the issue of security seriously…”
That is the only way we can take the issue of bringing this insurgency to a close. We need the support of the Senate. We will not remain in this condition. We need to improve on our facilities.
He said this on the heels of the burial of Lt. Col. Abu Ali and six soldiers in Abuja.
They were killed in Borno, at the weekend.
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