28th June, 2011
Operations to bring an end to the menace of Boko Haram will begin soon, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, has said.
Ihejirika gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja, while answering questions from newsmen, after declaring open the second Quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference attended by top military officers and other stake holders.
He said the army was equal to the task of finding lasting solutions to the security challenges in some parts of the country.
“ The tactics they (Boko Haram) have employed are relatively new and having studied their method of operation, very soon the country will notice improvement in the new security agreements,†Ihejirika said.
Referring to the presence of soldiers everywhere in the FCT, he said that in an atmosphere of terrorism, the residents should be ready and able to bear a lot of inconveniences.
He said the army was being proactive by searching vehicles, and that Nigerians should be able to adopt to the temporary security measures.
The army chief said that one key agenda of the conference, which is being held behind closed doors, was how to improve on the security measures already taken.
“General Officers Commanding (GOC) and Commanders will receive briefing on how to confront the menace of Boko Haram once and for all.
“The purpose of the conference is to take stock of the first and second quarter activities, especially in the area of security as it concerns areas of responsibilities and as it affects various commands,†he added.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj.-Gen. Olakunle Akinyemi, noted that the current security challenges needed to be immediately addressed.
Akinyemi said the problem of Boko Haram in some parts of the country was one of the contemporary challenges that needed to be immediately addressed. He said the conference would come up with recommendations and strategies towards addressing the challenges.
In his remarks, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the INEC, said the commission learnt quite a number of lessons during the April general elections that would help it in preparing for future elections.
He said the future of democracy and democratic process in the country was bright, and that all that was needed was for everybody to strive to make it perfect.
While commending the army for an excellent job done during the elections, Jega noted that there were few complaints of high handedness, overzealousness and partisanship.