“Yes, Nigeria Is At War” – Col. Umar

Col. Abubakar Umar, former governor of Kaduna State, shares insights on how to defeat Boko Haram

          Former Kaduna State governor, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd.) outlines the course of action the Federal Government and ordinary Nigerians should adhere to in order to defeat Boko Haram.

In an interview with Vanguard correspondent, Umar urged Nigerians to admit that “Nigeria is, indeed, at war.”

“We need to understand that the war in the North-East is a war against Nigeria. The insurgents intend to use a conquered North-East as a launch pad on which to invade and conquer the rest of the country and possibly the whole of the West African sub-region,” he said. “Nigerians must wake up to the reality that their only defence against the marauding insurgents is our visibly demoralized military”

To effectively overpower Boko Haram, the Federal Government and Nigerians should, according to Umar, take the following steps:

    be psychologically and emotionally involved in the war against Boko Haram. The Boko Haram cancer must be prevented from metastasizing;
    show unity of purpose by stopping all divisive recriminations as to which group of Nigerians is responsible for the emergence and support of Boko Haram. It is not true that the Federal Government is behind Boko Haram, nor is any anti-President Jonathan politician responsible;
    we must give unalloyed support to the Federal Government and by extension, our security forces in their difficult task of combating the Boko Haram insurgents;
    politicians must desist from using our security challenges to score cheap political goals. They must also show the example by refraining from excessive celebrations during their electioneering campaigns.
    all national celebrations must be suspended. We should also suspend our participation in international sporting events until our security situation improves;
    in an effort to mobilise and focus the nation’s attention on our war effort, the Federal Government should declare a period of mourning in honour of the victims of insurgency. They must also show the example by refraining from excessive celebrations during their electioneering campaigns;
    special prayers should be held in churches and mosques for the victims including prayers for the release of the Chibok School girls and other abducted victims;
    the Human rights campaigners’ allegations must be investigated and appropriate measures taken to avert hostility between our security forces and civilians. There is need for strong cooperation between our troops and the civilian population they are out to defend.
    Federal Government should recall all armed forces personnel in the reserve. It may also consider reabsorbing all able-bodied and willing discharged veterans of international peacekeeping operations. There is the need to order back to barracks all security personnel who are currently deployed on non-essential duties for retraining and redeployment to the war front in the North-East;
    we are aware that not less than 20 per cent of our security manpower is deployed for duties as guards and servants to non-entitled serving and retired officers and their spouses. These should be withdrawn and properly redeployed. Without giving away our strength to the enemy, I will recommend that we increase our recruitment and employ only those that are willing to defend the country. This will also make it possible to rotate our personnel to ensure that none stays in the front longer than 12 months per tour;
    the general welfare of our troops must be enhanced. The Federal Government may consider launching a troops’ comfort fund or maintenance fund as was done during the civil war. Minister of Defence and service chiefs must be seen paying regular visits to frontline troops and in hospitals. There must be elaborate burial ceremonies for the fallen heroes with the band in attendance. The president should start public and ceremonial decoration of our security personnel who have distinguished themselves in the campaign. In order not to devalue such presidential awards, the Government may suspend all awards to other categories of Nigerians.

Read FULL INTERVIEW with Col. Umar (rtd.) on Vanguard:“How Boko Haram Can Be Defeated” – Umar