The Borno state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Network of Civil Societies (NCS) have yesterday; unfolded strategies of ending terrorism in Northeast. The over a decade long Boko Haram insurgency, has claimed 36,000 lives and destruction of $9 billion (about N3.42 trillion) in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Unfolding war strategies at a news conference Tuesday in Maiduguri, NLC Chairman, Comrade Bulama Abiso and NCS’s Executive Director, Amb. Ahmed Shehu disclosed that; the recent setbacks witnessed by Armed Forces, were as a result of ‘out of strategy’ in counter-insurgency and terrorism operations,” They noted that this became pertinent to the recent attack on Governor Babagana Zulum’s convoy last Wednesday at Baga, located on the shores of Lake Chad. “We strongly condemned the recent attack on the Governor and his entourage at Mile 4, Baga. We also sympathized with him over last Wednesday’s incident,” he said, insisting for an independent investigation into the matter. He warned that if the safety of number one citizen of state, is not guaranteed, the lives of other citizens are also at risks. According to them, the out of strategy, has led to recent “abduction, killings and detonation” of four Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) in Maiduguri metropolis. Abiso attributed incessant attacks to lack of Army’s genuine will, mistrust among security agencies and victims’ divulge of information to the military, while fighting Boko Haram insurgency for over a decade in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. He said that commercial and economic benefits of terrorism are driven by actors in the theatre of war. On how to end it, he said: “The Federal Government should come up with initiatives on how to engage the public on dangers of insurgency,” adding that strengthening civil-military relationship and community policing could reduce these incessant attacks in protecting people’s lives. He said the Federal Government should also adopt measures to enhance public confidence in the “security and intelligence agencies.” The labour and civil society leaders, therefore; called for a total overhaul of the process, system and strategies being adopted in fighting Boko Haram insurgency. “There is no harm to seek external support; if that is what is needed to bring peace in the Northeast region,” said Abiso. While condemning recent killings of aid workers; he said that; “We urged the Army to prioritize their safety, particularly those in the front lines of war,” urging that Federal and State Governments, including the UN and International Non-Governmental Organisations provide insurance covers to aid workers. “We believe this will encourage indigents to continue provide humanitarian support to affected communities in hard to reach areas,” he noted.
