Piqued by lingering Boko Haram terrorism, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has called on Federal Government to engage 100, 000 additional troops to end war in the state. The over a decade long insurgency has also claimed many lives and property in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Zulum made the call Wednesday, while receiving nine-member House Committee on Defense led by Hon. Babajimi Benson at Government House, Maiduguri.
He said the immediate recruitment of soldiers, is to boost manpower of military, as troops are grossly inadequate to end the war against Boko Haram terrorism. While lamenting the limited number of troops in front lines, he said that the existing military personnel; have failed in taking the fight to Boko Haram enclaves of Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region. According to him, decisive action of military; is imperative if the fight against Boko haram terrorists must be won. “Kindly inform the Speaker and the Senate President to advise Mr President; to do mass recruitment of 100.000 soldiers into the Nigeria Army. “They should come and recruit the locals whether they have Western education or not.” He added that during the civil war, many were recruited but after some few years, the soldiers that fought the war were demobilized. “I think this is one of the solutions to the ongoing counter-insurgency and terrorism operations in Northeast,” said Zulum He told the House Committee Defense that there is the need to recruit 50,000 young men from Borno.
Zulum insisted that the state; has able bodied young men that can join the Nigeria Armed Forces on an ad hoc basis; as they can be trained and retrained to end this war. He said apart from massive engagement of soldiers, the military could re-trace it steps and re-strategise for retired military personnel and policemen into the armed forces system. He also requested the Federal Government to look into possibility of lifting a ban on the temporal usage of certain types of weapons for the paramilitary in the northeast. According to him, such alternatives, if implemented, would go a long way in complementing the roles of military to end the war.
While sharing current experiences with committee, he said: “I was in Niger Republic last week. I saw their police using Anti-Aircraft guns, General Purpose Machine Guns and others. “I think the Federal government should consider lifting ban of some kind of weapons in the northeast for certain period.” He warned the committee that: “We kept on having series of meetings, endless meetings, without taking decisive steps. “I think this crisis will consume all of us; it will even consume our democracy, we must take decisive steps.” He said no armed force can fight insurgency to the finish; without manpower, adequate funding and modern technology.
