Jonathan: Like Ebola, We Will Defeat Boko Haram
With 'Shekau' dead, military moves to clear
other towns of insurgency
Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu
in Benin City
Encouraged by his administration's successful
containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD),
President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed
confidence about the imminent defeat of the
Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.
His declaration comes at a time an optimistic
Nigerian military is riding on the crest of the
recent confirmation of the death of
Mohammed Bashir, who was believed to have
been posturing as Abubakar Shekau, to
liberate more towns in the North-eastern
states of Borno and Adamawa, which the
terrorists control.
President Jonathan, who was speaking during
the South-south Peoples Democratic Party
rally in the Edo State capital Benin City, said
just as he government was able to effectively
address the Ebola Crisis, the insurgency in the
Northeast would be defeated.
The President also reiterated his
administration's resolve to continue to
improve on all infrastructure in order to give
Nigerians good and qualitative life.
Also calling for the support of Nigerians for
the administration and his party come 2015
general elections, he recalled that prior to
2007 elections, the PDP had dominated in the
six states that make up the South-south before
Edo and Rivers States rebelled and left for the
opposition All Progressives Congress.
He, however, declared that the party would
surely triumph in 2015 with the return of
Chief Tom Ikimi, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and
others back to its fold.
The President had earlier inaugurated the
rehabilitated Benin-Ofosu section of the
Benin-Ore-Lagos express road. The road, which
has been a source of nightmare to travellers,
was first awarded in December 2006 at a cost
of N26billion. At a colourful ceremony held at
the Oluku section of the road, he had
promised to fix more Nigerian roads but did
not give a time frame.
According to President Jonathan, his
administration met a comatose transportation
sector which made former President Yar'Adua
to bring all transport sectors under one
ministry, promising to return roads in the
country to Class A roads.
"The Benin-Shagamu road will be completed,"
he assured.
"When we came on board in 2007… we noticed
that all sectors in the transportation industry
have collapsed. We decided to bring them
under one Ministry of Transport.
"Before now, nobody saw railways in the
country but we have brought them back. All
our road projects will be completed. This
government will not disappoint you."
Also speaking at the rally, Vice-President
Namadi Sambo gave reasons why the people
of Edo State must vote for Jonathan in 2015,
saying "among the several transformation
agenda of the present administration, the
South-south has benefited much with the
completion of seven power plants which
presently generates about 2000 MWT of
electricity."
He also announced that President Jonathan
had only last week given approval for a
Maritime University and the development of
new ship building yard and a new coastal rail
line where work would soon begin.
On his part, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief
Tony Anenih, appealed to the North to
support President Jonathan's re-election bid in
2015.
Anenih said that the Zone had supported and
formed successful political alliances with the
North in the past, stressing that the current
situation calls for reciprocity and cooperation.
Among the party's stalwarts at the rally are the
PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'Azu,
Senate President David Mark, governors of
Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa and Abia states,
senators and former governors.
Meanwhile, a top security source who spoke to
THISDAY on the military's latest move to rid
the occupied North-eastern towns of
insurgents, said the mission of completely
ridding the country of Boko Haram terrorists
would be prosecuted decisively.
The source said that apart from the Konduga
operation, where the insurgents suffered their
heaviest defeat, military had been engaged in
fierce combat to liberate other towns that
have in recent times come under the control
of the insurgents like Gwoza, Gamboru-Ngala,
some parts of Bama, Michika, and Bazza
among others.
"There is heavy operation going on and with
detailed plan but much of where and when or
how the operations would be carried out
would not be divulged publicly until there is a
substantial gain for tactical and operational
reasons," the source said.
This was also confirmed yesterday by the
Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-
Gen. Chris Olukolade, while responding to
THISDAY inquiries on the update in the North-
eastern operations.
Olukolade said that there is a renewed
offensive to flush out the terrorists from
several communities that had either been
hiding or terrorising the residents.
He noted that "despite the progress being
made in efforts to decimate and contain them,
splinter cells of the terrorist group are still
trying to carry out snap attacks on some
communities.
"They were however effectively beaten back in
communities such as Konduga, Beneshek and
Damboa where they made a number of
attempts on Thursday and Friday."
According to the DDI, a multi barrel T55 tank,
nine rifles, two machine guns, two rocket-
propelled grenade tubes and five boxes of
ammunition with other weapons were
captured from the terrorists.
Olukolade further confirmed that over 40 of
the terrorists died during the encounters in
those three locations. He said that the troops
also conducted a raid on the terrorists' enclave
at Shindig.
In all the operations, he revealed, a total of 11
soldiers died while 15 are being treated for
injuries sustained in the battles. He said three
are still missing.
.
0 Comments: