It is now over three months since the President and commander in chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan imposed state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States, following the insecurity problem in the northern part of the country.
The question now is having operated the emergency rule for these months how far has the insecurity problem been tackled.
In as much as the exact number of casualties recorded after the imposition of the emergency rule on 1/6/2013, is uncertain the fact remains that mindless killings by this Islamic sect has continued unabetted. What perhaps the state of emergency has done is to scatter the sect around the northern states and by extension the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon among others
President Jonathan had recently given a pass mark to the emergency rule, stating emphatically that the Boko Haram insurgency will soon be a thing of the past.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labran Maku had severally predicted the end of the Boko Haram insurgency. His calculation of course was that the Military of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is capable of exterminating the monster called Boko Haram.
In as much as it may not be correct to say that the state of emergency has not produced desired results, it would have been unimaginable the magnitude of havoc, the Boko haram insurgents would have caused without the president’s hard decision.
As at last week the deadly Boko Haram insurgents who are now scattered in the outskirts of the three northern states struck, killing a handful of their unsuspecting victims, most of whom are said to be members of the civilian JTF (Youths helping the Joint Military Task Force to identify the Boko Haram insurgents).
The civilian JTF have vowed to ensure that the last trace of Boko Haram insurgents are exterminated, hence the attack on them by the mindless Boko Haram insurgents.
The military few days ago deployed more troops to the troubled spots to hunt down the fleeing insurgents who now operate more in the Interlands.
Having experimented the state of emergency for upwards of three months without much result, one would have suggested that an appraisal or review of the operations is due. If the system has been operated with political office holders in place and there seems to be no end to the onslaught, there is nothing wrong with disbanding these structures to assess the otherside of the coin. And who knows if that could produce the messiah.
We are aware that a committee was also set up to explore the dialogue option of ending the Boko Haram insurgency, what we do not understand right now is how far this committee has done its work.
A recent clips in one of the electronic media showed the peace committee chatting with the masked Boko Haram operators, an indication that some efforts were being made from that direction.
What we are saying in essence is that time is ticking fast and the damage inflicted on the image of Nigeria as a nation by this religious sect is deepening. Foreign investors have since disappeared in northern Nigeria; commercial activities have also grounded by the operations of the Boko Harm insurgency.
There is therefore an urgent need to end the insecurity problems and restore normalcy in the affected areas.
The reason is that no matter how we look at it, all is not well with the northern Nigeria and when the eyes are crying, the nose and probably other parts of the body will naturally join.
Whatever the Federal Government under the able leadership of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan will do to bring the desired peace in the country, please let it do for no prize is too much to be paid to achieve sustainable peace.
We do not have any other place to call our own; therefore all hands must be on deck to save any part of the country that is threatened with annexation or as the case maybe.
It is always wise to make hay while the sun shines. ####
