Elite to blame for B’Haram’s nuisance, says Minimah

Immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah has noted that the elite are to blame for whatever show of strength being displayed by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and their acts of violence being carried out in the north east part of the country.

He accused them of using the sect to advance political, religious and sectional interests, adding, that the counter-insurgency campaign would have recorded more successes if the elite had supported government’s efforts.

Lt. Gen. Minimah who made the remarks in his valedictory address at the Pulling-Out held in commemoration of his retirement from service, also regretted that the authorities toyed with the health and vitality of the military through inadequate funding.

According to him, “The insurgency snowballed into a graver dimension because these people exploited the security challenge to further sectional, religious and political interests.”

The ex-Army chief urged Nigerians to take practical steps against the terrorists and other criminal elements in order to ensure lasting peace and security in the country, by supporting the Federal Government and the security agencies in the ongoing fight against insurgency.

Read also: How fear of coup hurt fight against B’Haram

He went on: “In the last decade, we have seen the extent to which people who harbour evil against their fellow co-patriots can go to inflict pain and death on innocent people.

“This is the time for us to rise in unison not only to condemn but to take actions against the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in order to foster peace and security in our society.

“Perhaps, if we had all stood against the terrorists at the outset through condemnation of their activities and active collaboration with the military to confront them, rather than use it as a tool to advance section, tribal, religious and political interests, we would not have been where we find ourselves today.

“We must therefore all unite and support our government and security forces to tackle the current security challenges.”

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