Insecurity in Nigeria, an industry — Obasanjo
…Says Boko Haram fight lasting longer than civil war
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed worry that the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria has lasted longer than the country’s civil war that took place between 1967 and 1970.
He spoke on Sunday during the ‘Toyin Falola Interviews’ conversation, which was live-streamed on social media.
Other panellists included the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, and a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Kingsley Moghalu.
Reacting to questions on insurgency in Nigeria, the former president said leadership must understand that Nigeria needs a combination of training, equipment, intelligence, and technology to end insurgency.
Obasanjo said there is nothing wrong with Nigerian military personnel receiving training in countries that have solved the insurgency challenge.
Citing his experience with the Niger Delta militancy, he said he will not rule out the tendency of security personnel colluding with insurgents.
His words: “There are four important items and I hope that those who are in charge — military, executive, and legislature — know what they are doing. First, there is training. There are different types of training. The military is trained for conventional war.
“If the people you are dealing with are fleeting targets or living among your people, you will need different types of training to deal with them.
“Among the countries that have done that fairly successfully is Colombia. Should we invite them to train our people? There is no shame in that. It is a specialised type of training.
“There is the equipment. The equipment to fight that type of warfare. It differs from equipment for conventional warfare. The other one is intelligence. You need absolute intelligence. Can others trust us with the intelligence that they have?
“The fourth one is technology. These four have to come together and do other things internally.
“Then you ask the military to be the one buying equipment. It is not done. The whole thing is an industry. It is an industry.
“Civil war lasted for 30 months. Although we thought it would last for six months. But this fight against insurgents and criminals has lasted for almost 15 years.”
Narrating how he visited Maiduguri in 2011 to find out the origin, grievances, and leadership of Boko Haram, he said the insurgents initially refused to negotiate with the Federal Government.
According to him, Boko Haram would later agree to a 21-day ceasefire to allow for negotiations.
Government failed to reach out to the Boko Haram leaders, Obasanjo added.