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The country seem to be buffeted on all sides by security challenges. The Challenges did not just spring up on the nation. Insurgency in the North west has survived three presidents if the insurgents still linger in spite of their being degraded by this regime. Degrading the Boko Haram fighters does not translate to routing them. They no longer control the vast territories they did in the past. We hear they have been boxed into one local government and a fraction, from the several they had in the past, spanning more than one state. But they insist that neither retreat no surrender is permissible in the quest to create Islamic republic in Norther Nigeria. Yesterday the group announced a new leader named Abu Musav al-Barnawi, a final confirmation that Abubakar Shekau, the immediate past helmsman, had fallen casualty to the war. It was instructive the the new leader was announced by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria[ ISIS], an indication that their affinity is no ruse. Although ISIS may also be degraded, the cost of underrating both groups by those who fight them can be disastrous. The military authorities know this and have continued in their onslaught against the insurgents. They have a battle on that front which they have remained unrelenting in exucuting. They still deploy arsenal and personnel for fear of being caught flat footed when the insurgents, who now operate a near guerrilla war fare, strike.
New war fronts have sprouted in parts of the country, thus stretching the military personnel. The Niger Delta region had largely been peaceful since late President Umaru Yar”Adua broached their agitation with offer of amnesty. He asked them to lay down their arms in exchange for cash and education. Daily Sun reported that the amnesty programme has continued to yield dividends with the graduation of tens of students of students from the Niger Delta in United Kingdom universities.
According to the reports, three of the students bagged first class degree in various fields. There was something cheery in knowing that youhts who hugged AK 47 in the past, have the capacity to excel in academics as to come out in flying colours. Gains of the past are on the verge of being reversed with the exploits of Niger Delta Avengers who have blown up many installations and have remained unrelenting in their attacks. Now Adaka Boro Avengers[ABA] have joined the fray. Last monday they suspended a move to declare the Niger Delta Repuplic after it claimed former president Goodluck Jonathan, King Alfred Diete- Spiff and other Ijaw leaders prevailed on the members not to go ahead with the declaration. The Military had deployed massive security personnel to Kiagama community, the supposed capital of the yet-to-be declared republic. The military is strechted on all fronts.
In Ogun state, it took military bombardment to rout pipeline vandals and kidnappers who operate in the creeks in this places. There should be no dialogue with them. They are criminals.
These security infractions may be reaction to hardship in the land or physical show of resentment of the current regime. Dialogue holds the key to peace, especially in the Niger Delta region. Late President Umaru Yar”Adua deployed it to get relative peace in the region, a process consolidated by President Jonathan. The boys may not be totally wiped out by fire power, the same way insurgents have not been completely decimated. The Militants say government is insincere in moves to negotiate. The situation will not end on the battle field. We do not know where they get support and arms which is why dialogue holds the key. The armed forces are biting too much, probably more than they can chew with attendant dissipation of resources . Buhari should emulate Yar’Adua and deploy dialogue in solving the several security infractions buffeting his regime.