ABUBAKAR UMAR: MEASURES TO END BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

Measures to be taken to put an end to the insurgency to include 

- unalloyed support for the federal government and by extension, the security forces in their difficult task of combating the insurgents; being security conscious; 

- politicians desisting from using the security challenges to score cheap political goals and show example by refraining from excessive celebrations during their electioneering campaigns.

- all national celebrations and participation in international sporting events be suspended until the security situation improves; 

- federal government’s declaration of a period of mourning in honour of victims of insurgency; 

- offer of special prayers in churches and mosques for the victims, including prayers for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls and other abducted victims; and emphasis on the need to beef up the strength of the security forces.

- recall all reserve armed forces personnel and consider reabsorbing all able-bodied and willing discharged veterans of international peacekeeping operations. 

 - the need to order back to barracks all security personnel currently deployed on non-essential duties for retraining and redeployment to the warfront in the northeast.

 We are aware that not less than 20 per cent of our security manpower is deployed for duties as guards and servants to non-entitled serving and retired officers and their spouses. These should be withdrawn and properly redeployed. 

 Without giving away our strength to the enemy, I will recommend that we increase our recruitment and employ only those that are willing to defend the country. This will also make it possible to rotate our personnel to ensure that none stay in the front longer than 12 months per tour.

The general welfare of our troops must be enhanced. The federal government may consider launching a troops’ comfort or maintenance Fund as was done during the civil war. 

The Minister of Defence and Service Chiefs must be seen paying regular visits to frontline troops and in hospitals. There must be elaborate burial ceremonies for the fallen heroes with the band in attendance. 

The President should start public and ceremonial decoration of our security personnel who have distinguished themselves in the campaign. In order not to devalue such presidential awards, the government may suspend all awards to other categories of Nigerians.

Since it is one of the aims of the Boko Haram to demoralise our troops by attacking their families in barracks located in the area of conflict, the federal government should relocate families of our security forces to safer areas.

We also need to do more to convince the international community, especially our friends in the West, to abandon their current hesitation and come to our assistance without further delay. 

 We fully endorse the protest of our Ambassador to the United States (US) against that country’s strange decision not to sell arms to Nigeria. More than anyone else, the West knows that, like ISIL, Boko Haram constitutes monumental threat to global peace and security.