Boko Haram: Gowon faults December deadline

Nigeria’s former military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has faulted the December 2015 deadline handed the military by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the country, as according to him, nobody can really talk about when any particular military operation will end.
Gowon, who was speaking in Abakaliki on Tuesday, however noted, that the military would do its best to meet the December deadline and expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigerian armed forces to defeat the terrorist sect.
Though the military has said it would meet the schedule, the former Nigerian war time leader warned that no person can confidently talk about the particular time a military operation would end.
Gowon, who led an advocacy team on malaria and four other neglected tropical diseases, on a visit to Governor David Umahi, said: “I can tell you this, nobody can really talk about when any particular operation is going to end. And as a (former) commander-in- chief, I know this.
“Yes, you can say you target a particular time, but it may finish before that time or it may go slightly beyond. To end it, that is the most important thing.

Read also: Boko Haram: Military may seek shift in Dec. deadline

“I assure you that I have absolute confidence in our military that they are going to really deal with the situation as they are doing at the moment,” said Mr. Gowon, who was the military leader during Nigeria’s civil war between 1967 and 1970.
He expressed worry that Boko Haram insurgents have resorted to using underage and innocent children as suicide bombers.
“May the spirits of these poor little children who are being brainwashed to carry out such heinous crimes rest in peace,” he said.
Gowon praised the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the successes it recorded in the fight against Boko Haram, noting that the Buhari administration has done much since its coming to office in May, to wipe out the sect. He also urged Nigerians to keep praying against the activities of the sect as “prayer is an alternative and the most effective weapon to defeat Boko Haram”.
He said: “With prayers, God will touch their hearts (Boko Haram) to change for better,” he said.

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