President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in N’Djamena, Chad, renewed
call for quick interventions and measures to curb the menace of Boko
Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi
Adesina, said in a statement in Abuja that Buhari made the appeal at a
one-day consultation with Heads of State and Governments of the Lake
Chad Basin Commission (LCBC).
Adesina said the meeting was called to address the recent upsurge in
terrorist activities in the region, and the Nigerian leader rallied his
colleagues from Chad, Niger Republic and Republic of Cameroon to a fresh
onslaught against insurgents, particularly the Boko Haram group.
Buhari said: “As you are aware and have witnessed in recent times,
there are new developments of security concern in our sub-region.
“The region in the recent past has witnessed increasing attacks,
particularly on military formations by elements of the Boko Haram
terrorists as well as the renewed kidnapping of people.
“These activities are aimed at weakening our collective resolve to eradicate them from the region. We must not cave in.
“The group’s renewed strategy of increasingly mining the general area
as well as its recent deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for
surveillance activities have proved to be critical factors in the
resurgence of attacks in the region.”
While commending what he called the “untiring efforts” of the
leadership of the LCBC, and officers and men of the Multi-National Joint
Task Force (MNJTF), Buhari noted that the efforts of those who strive
to bring peace and stability to the region would never be forgotten.
“We are committed to ensuring that the ideals of restoring peace,
stability and viability of the Lake Chad Region to its glorious state,
for which some of you have paid the ultimate price is attained,” he
vowed.
He further maintained: “We must not relent and allow the enemies of
the region to succeed in their quest to destabilise the area.
“We must reinvigorate our collective will and commitment towards
eradicating terrorism from our region. We must remain focused and true
to ensuring sustainable development.
“To this end, I have requested that bilateral and multilateral
platforms of engagements by member countries affected by the conflict be
revamped to ensure collective actions towards stamping out the remnants
of the terrorists from the region.
“There is no gainsaying that also fueling the crisis are the twin
menaces of poverty and the continued shrinkage of the Lake Chad, which
have rendered the people of the region vulnerable to terrorist
activities.
“Attention is drawn to the Lake and its resources, which have always
been the source of livelihood for the millions of people that live
within and around the basin.’’
He reiterated an earlier promise he had made to troops fighting
terrorism, saying: “We are committed to ensuring you have the requisite
and enabling equipment to optimally function. Your welfare is and would
continue to remain our priority.
“Together, we shall restore the Lake Chad Region to its glorious days.”
In attendance at the consultation, apart from the Nigerian President,
were President Idris Deby Itno of Chad, President Mahamadou Issoufou of
Niger Republic, and Prime Minister of Cameroon, Philemon Yang, who
represented President Paul Biya.
In a joint communique, the Heads of State and Governments, resolved
to change modus operandi, collaborate more, and renew assault on all
forms of terrorism and criminal acts, till wholesome peace was restored
to the region.