APC solicits support for war against B’Haram

In the face of fresh bombardment of suspected Boko Haram hideout in Sambisa forest and environs by the men of Nigerian Air Force, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the support of Nigerians in ensuring that the military meets President Muhammadu Buhari’s three-month deadline of complete incapacitation of the terrorist group.

This is coming even as neighbouring Cameroon promised to triple the number of its troops in the Multi-National Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram to reach 2,400 troops.

In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said while the military must sustain its efforts to further degrade the fighting ability of the insurgents, it is important for all Nigerians to continue to support the troops in every way possible so that the monsters who have killed and maimed at will in the past several years can be defeated once and for all.

We have always believed that the Nigerian military, which has distinguished itself globally since its first participation in a UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo in 1960, has what it takes not only to protect and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity but also to win even an asymmetrical warfare like the one against Boko Haram-under the right circumstances.

We are glad that the military is now proving us right,’’ the party said. The party hailed the military for ramping up the fight against Boko Haram, saying the visible paradigm shift in the military’s approach to the battle against the insurgents is yielding positive results.

In the last few months, the rejuvenated military appear to have been taking the battle straight to the insurgents, instead of waiting for them to attack.

A move that has put the Boko Haram on the back foot as it engaged in cowardice and desperate indiscriminate bombing of soft civilian targets.

The party described as refreshing and reassuring the fact that Service Chiefs have been visiting the theatre of the battle in the North East, not only to inspire and motivate the fighting men and women, but also to meet with political and community leaders in the area. ‘’The stepped-up fight against Boko Haram has convinced Nigerians that indeed their military is getting its groove back, and can beat the President’s deadline.

The renewed battle has also shown that President Buhari was right in directing the relocation of the military’s command and control centre from Abuja to Maiduguri. ‘’Watching the video clip of Nigerian Air Force jets pounding targets in Sambisa Forest, which is the fortress of the insurgents, over the weekend arouses great pride in the military,’’ APC said.

As part of the fallout of Buhari’s shuttle diplomacy, Nigerian-US relation may have been reset to the level where much needed military hardware are now being sent by the United States to increase the Nigerian military firepower.