L
LequteMan
Guest
It gives me great pleasure to attend this Special Summit to deliberate on the current security situation in Nigeria.
Let me start by first expressing my deep thanks and appreciation to the President of the French Republic, His Excellency, Mr Francois Hollande, for convening this Summit.
This is the second time within a year that we have come to Paris to discuss what are essentially African security issues.
Without doubt, your concern and empathy with the government and people of Nigeria is a clear demonstration of true solidarity and brotherhood in ensuring that the current security challenges facing our country are addressed in a definitive and conclusive manner.
But let me state clearly from the outset that what started as a local insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria has now evolved into the new frontier of the global war of terrorism against our civilisation, our way of life, and against the many prospects of stability in our region.
This is not anymore a challenge to Nigeria alone; it is a threat to each and every one of us in this room.
The Boko Haram Sect emerged in 2002 while its insurgency phase started as far back as 2009.
Officially known as the Jamaa’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’wati Wal Jihad, which in English means “people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, the group is more commonly identified with its motivating principle, and referred to as Boko Haram which literally means, Western or non-Islamic education is prohibited.
The group is hostile to democracy; it uses every means to indoctrinate its members; its ultimate objective is to destabilise the country and take over Nigeria in order to turn it into a base of operation in West Africa and the entire continent.
Since 2009, we have had to contend with many attacks and killings, which have now developed into a full-scale war targeting the stability and integrity of our nation.
Boko Haram has launched a vicious guerrilla-style campaign against the government and the people of Nigeria.
It has attacked schools, slaughtered students in their dormitories, destroyed villages, communities and government infrastructure and has wreaked havoc on the economic and social life of our people.
This unconventional war has so far claimed over 12,000 lives, with more than 8, 000 persons injured or maimed, not to mention the displacement of thousands of innocent Nigerians.
We have developed intelligence, which indicates clearly that global terrorist networks are deeply involved in the recent activities of Boko Haram, which has now turned into an integral part of the Al Qaeda network as the West African Branch.
More tellingly, the group runs an international network of training and incubation centres in such places as Gao and Kidal areas of Mali, the Diffa, Maradi and Maina Soro areas of Niger Republic, Maroua and Garoua areas of Republic of Cameroon, the Zango and Ridina quarters in Ndjamena, Chad, the Ranky-Kotsy area of Sudan, and also some cells in the Central African Republic.
As a responsible government, we felt compelled to declare a State of Emergency in three of Nigeria’s north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
This became necessary to give the security forces the required scope and authority to enable them operate more efficiently in the affected areas in order to gain victory.
They were directed to adhere strictly to clearly spelt out rules of engagement and avoid any excesses that may amount to a violation of human rights.
Careful regard for human rights has always been central to our counter-terrorism strategies, resulting in the adoption of rules and procedures to protect the civilian population from excessive collateral damage.
Last year, I had ordered the release from detention of women and underage persons who had been involved with terrorists and also, persons against whom prima facie cases could not be established.
Proven incidents of human rights violation which may have involved our security forces are always promptly investigated and dealt with in accordance with our laws.
In addition to military operation, our administration has adopted what we have termed “a soft approach” to combating the insurgency.
This includes short, medium and long-term measures to mitigate the impact on the people and the entire country.
Our focus along this line has been mainly in form of the introduction of a robust educational programme in the northern states to reduce the number of out-of-school children and empower the youths.
We have launched economic recovery programmes to create jobs, while also providing infrastructure, which unfortunately, is heavily threatened by the terror attacks.
Other measures include the introduction of de-radicalisation programmes for convicted terrorists and suspects awaiting trial, and the promotion of opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with critical stakeholders from the region.
Nonetheless, Boko Haram has continued to attack innocent Nigerians without regard to religion, ethnicity and gender.
Christians have been killed; churches have been destroyed, Muslims have also been murdered and mosques destroyed.
The reprehensible abduction of innocent school girls in Chibok, Borno State, is another manifestation of this criminality.
We believe that it is the success of our administration’s Transformation Agenda, evident in the growth of our economy and increasing opportunities for our people, that has prompted the terrorists to intensify the war against Nigeria because our success is their failure.
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View attachment 19389
#Borno #BokoHaram #Chibok #GoodluckJonathan
Let me start by first expressing my deep thanks and appreciation to the President of the French Republic, His Excellency, Mr Francois Hollande, for convening this Summit.
This is the second time within a year that we have come to Paris to discuss what are essentially African security issues.
Without doubt, your concern and empathy with the government and people of Nigeria is a clear demonstration of true solidarity and brotherhood in ensuring that the current security challenges facing our country are addressed in a definitive and conclusive manner.
But let me state clearly from the outset that what started as a local insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria has now evolved into the new frontier of the global war of terrorism against our civilisation, our way of life, and against the many prospects of stability in our region.
This is not anymore a challenge to Nigeria alone; it is a threat to each and every one of us in this room.
The Boko Haram Sect emerged in 2002 while its insurgency phase started as far back as 2009.
Officially known as the Jamaa’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’wati Wal Jihad, which in English means “people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, the group is more commonly identified with its motivating principle, and referred to as Boko Haram which literally means, Western or non-Islamic education is prohibited.
The group is hostile to democracy; it uses every means to indoctrinate its members; its ultimate objective is to destabilise the country and take over Nigeria in order to turn it into a base of operation in West Africa and the entire continent.
Since 2009, we have had to contend with many attacks and killings, which have now developed into a full-scale war targeting the stability and integrity of our nation.
Boko Haram has launched a vicious guerrilla-style campaign against the government and the people of Nigeria.
It has attacked schools, slaughtered students in their dormitories, destroyed villages, communities and government infrastructure and has wreaked havoc on the economic and social life of our people.
This unconventional war has so far claimed over 12,000 lives, with more than 8, 000 persons injured or maimed, not to mention the displacement of thousands of innocent Nigerians.
We have developed intelligence, which indicates clearly that global terrorist networks are deeply involved in the recent activities of Boko Haram, which has now turned into an integral part of the Al Qaeda network as the West African Branch.
More tellingly, the group runs an international network of training and incubation centres in such places as Gao and Kidal areas of Mali, the Diffa, Maradi and Maina Soro areas of Niger Republic, Maroua and Garoua areas of Republic of Cameroon, the Zango and Ridina quarters in Ndjamena, Chad, the Ranky-Kotsy area of Sudan, and also some cells in the Central African Republic.
As a responsible government, we felt compelled to declare a State of Emergency in three of Nigeria’s north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
This became necessary to give the security forces the required scope and authority to enable them operate more efficiently in the affected areas in order to gain victory.
They were directed to adhere strictly to clearly spelt out rules of engagement and avoid any excesses that may amount to a violation of human rights.
Careful regard for human rights has always been central to our counter-terrorism strategies, resulting in the adoption of rules and procedures to protect the civilian population from excessive collateral damage.
Last year, I had ordered the release from detention of women and underage persons who had been involved with terrorists and also, persons against whom prima facie cases could not be established.
Proven incidents of human rights violation which may have involved our security forces are always promptly investigated and dealt with in accordance with our laws.
In addition to military operation, our administration has adopted what we have termed “a soft approach” to combating the insurgency.
This includes short, medium and long-term measures to mitigate the impact on the people and the entire country.
Our focus along this line has been mainly in form of the introduction of a robust educational programme in the northern states to reduce the number of out-of-school children and empower the youths.
We have launched economic recovery programmes to create jobs, while also providing infrastructure, which unfortunately, is heavily threatened by the terror attacks.
Other measures include the introduction of de-radicalisation programmes for convicted terrorists and suspects awaiting trial, and the promotion of opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with critical stakeholders from the region.
Nonetheless, Boko Haram has continued to attack innocent Nigerians without regard to religion, ethnicity and gender.
Christians have been killed; churches have been destroyed, Muslims have also been murdered and mosques destroyed.
The reprehensible abduction of innocent school girls in Chibok, Borno State, is another manifestation of this criminality.
We believe that it is the success of our administration’s Transformation Agenda, evident in the growth of our economy and increasing opportunities for our people, that has prompted the terrorists to intensify the war against Nigeria because our success is their failure.
Click here to Continue reading
View attachment 19389
#Borno #BokoHaram #Chibok #GoodluckJonathan