Borno terror resurgence: Need for change of military strategy
The rapid resurgence of Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks across sections of Borno State suggests a resurging necessity for a rapid change of approach to, and re-strategizing of, the terror war in the North-East.
In fact, civil society organizations, which have condemned in strong terms the resurgence of terror activities, have warned that the situation could return the state to the dark and hopeless 2014-2018 days when the military had to shut down roads and communication networks in an effort to incapacitate or, at least, weaken, the terrorists’ reorganization and mobilization strategies.
The urgency for change of approach and strategy is highly imperative, not only to enable Borno State government safeguard and consolidate the significant success it has achieved in the resettlement of returnee communities in their ancestral abodes, but also to check further advances by the terrorists who seem hell-bent on reconquering liberated territories.
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Liberation of all territories, (except Guzamala, Abadam, and parts of Marte and Kukawa) hitherto under the grips of the terrorists by the Nigerian military and the multinational joint task force restored the sufficient security that facilitated the state government’s reconstruction and resettlement programme tailored towards the rapid rebuilding of the state economy.
The current resurgence of terror activities across the Northern, the Central and parts of the Southern zones of the state glaringly shows the determination of the terrorists to halt the programme.
In the last one month the terrorists carried out four attacks in Gwoza alone. Just few days ago, Kirawa a Nigeria/Cameroon border community came under heavy attacks by the terrorists, killing two residents and abducting many others.
Most-frightening of the resurging attacks was that of Darjamal, Bama Local Government Area, where the terrorists killed about 60 returnees at a resettlement camp.
Along with these resurging attacks, and, apparently to ensure that the returnees do not pick up their pieces and rebuild their economic lives, the terrorists engaged in a massive kidnapping of farmers, to scare away the returnees from conducting their main economic activity.
Borno State government and the hitherto displaced communities it is returning home are both determined to ensure the return of the state to a secure and prosperous life. The returnee communities are, in fact, showing commendable resilience and determination and help the state restore it’s economic prosperity.
The terrorists seem determined to ensure nothing of this sort happens. The successful implementation of reconstruction and resettlement programme might empower the returnee communities to gradually chase the terrorists out of the Nigerian territory. The terrorists will never want to see this.
If the terrorists, with the current resurgence of attacks, win the battle against the state’s reconstruction and resettlement programmes, it means Nigeria and its military have lost the terror war.
Therefore, the Nigerian government and its military should deploy advanced military technology for information and intelligence gathering, and advanced military hardwares to unleash a higher power against the naughty terrorists.
As the Borno govt reopens towns and villages to facilitate the successful implementation of reconstruction and resettlement there is a need for aggressive volunteers, like the civilian JTF personnel, recruitment to compliment military efforts, especially in such border towns Kirawa and Malamfatori.
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Prolonged closure of Biu-Damboa inflicting pain on Southern dwellers
BusinessDay finding shows that the Southern part of Borno is known for massive production of grains, beans, milets, maize, wheat, sorghum, guinea corn and other cereals, which constituted huge agricultural produce, that are being transported to various locations including Lagos-Abuja-Enugu-Port Harcourt- Asaba- Kaduna, among other parts of the Country.
Before now, the journey of 187 kilometres from Biu town, the biggest town in Southern part to Maiduguri, the epicentre of insurgency, used to be a two-hour drive, but it is now a nine-hour drive due to persistent terrorists attacks and total closure of the highway between Damboa and Biu for motorists more than two years ago, which is negatively affecting prices of grains in the markets due to high cost of transportation.
According to data, eight LGAs affected by closure in the Southern part comprising of Damboa, Biu, Chibok, Askira-Uba, Hawul, Shani, Bayo, Kwaya- Kusar and leading to Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states produce at least 500,000 tons of crops annually, even with Gwoza, which was badly affected by terrorists activities, having tagged the Caliphate (Headquarters) of Boko-Haram between 2014 and 2015 where they administered their heinous campaigns.
The people of areas are predominantly farmers who cultivate and produce large grains, especially the most-sought-after ”honey beans and big white beans”, transported to different part of the country including: Port Harcourt, Asaba, Kaduna, Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Ibadan and beyond the shores of the country.
“This Damboa-Biu road is an economic lifeline for the people, we cant claimed victory over terrorists and left a vital road like this to be abandoned to terrorists for over two years. I think there is need for political wills from both President Tinubu and Governor Babagana Zulum to rise and save Southern part from being permanently cut off from state capital.” A top politician from the zone echoed.
Kirawa a border community on verge of taken over by terrorists
Following Boko Haram terrorists continues to intensify attacks, the District head of Kirawa, Abdulrahman Abubakar and other residents of the community in Borno state have boarded trucks in high numbers to seek refuge in Cameroon villages.
Business Day gathered that some of the residents are also currently displaced to Maiduguri, the state capital and Pulka, a nearby community where there is Nigerian military presence.
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The sudden displacement follows a recent boko haram attack on the Kirawa community, under Gwoza local government area of Borno state where several houses including the palace of the district head, Alhaji, Abdulrahman Abubakar was burnt down
Yakubu Mabba Ali Kirawa, the Chairman Kirawa Development Association, said the community is currently deserted as everyone ran out for safety, urging for the establishment of a brigade in the community, saying the situation has gotten out of hand.
“As at yesterday evening, I was informed that many of our people boarded trucks to Cameroon communities, particularly in one market there. While some returned to Pulka, a Nigerian community where there are soldiers. Being a border community where it is just a river that separates us and Cameroon, we are requesting the federal government to establish a brigade and increase military deployment ” he said
Lending his voice, the Senator, representing Borno South Senatorial districts, Ali Ndume had recently lamented the absence of Nigerian soldiers in the community, a situation which he said has been escalating attack in the border community
Likewise, the Senator raised the alarm after suspected Boko Haram terriorist ambushed some members of the Civilian Joint Task Force including motorists along Kirawa-Pulka road on Friday, killing one and Injuring many others .
Reacting to the incident, Ndume described it as “disheartening”, while sympathizing with the victims,”It is very disheartening that I received a distress call that some armed Boko Haram terrorists laid ambush on motorists and passengers along Kirawa-Pulka road yesterday. The victims were escorted by few members of Civilian Joint Task Force as there are no military escort due to dislodgement of Camerounian troops based in Kirawa last month.
While calling on the military authorities to safeguarde the area, he said:”Let me also appeal to the military authorities to deploy troops, even it is a platoon to safeguard Kirawa and its people, because, my people are now living in perpetual fear since dislodgement of Cameroonian troops based in Kirawa last month”. Ndume said
Zulum visit to Niger Republic strengthen Trans-Border security
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum undertook a working visit to Diffa Region of Niger Republic to discuss issues related to trans border security.
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The visit, which included a high-level security and economic delegation, focused on strengthening the existing collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, particularly around the shores of Lake Chad.
Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brigadier General Mahamaduo Ibrahim Bagadoma, and other senior officials. The leaders held closed-door meetings centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.
Zulum outlined plan to leverage the improved security situation to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced farmers to the vast and fertile agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.
