Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja
The Federal Government, yesterday, alerted that the country is facing a new dimension in the insurgency challenge and called for increased support for the military.
Government said the joining of forces by factions of Boko Haram and the Islamic State to form the Islamic State’s West African Province (ISWAP) has changed the form and shape of the insurgency war.
Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this at the launch of a new campaign to galvanise public support for the military in the fight against insurgency. Titled: National campaign in support of the military, spokesmen of military services were at the event.
The minister said the military is contending with terrorists who are trained fighters and no longer fighting those he called ‘rag tag insurgents.’
He said that, “as our gallant men and women in uniform clear the remnants of the home-grown insurgency called Boko Haram, they are confronting a fresh crisis; a global insurgency. A faction of Boko Haram has aligned with ISIS, to form ISWAP.
“In other words, ISIS now has a strong foothold in West Africa- with Nigeria in the forefront of the battle against them.”
He held that “with ISIS largely dislodged from Iraq and Syria, there is undoubtedly a flush of fresh fighters and weapons to ISWAP. Therefore, our military is fighting a global insurgency, without the kind of global coalition, including the United States, that battled ISIS in Syria and Iraq.”
Mohammed accused some Nigerians of not appreciating the new challenge facing the country and the military.
“Those who do not understand the fresh threat facing our nation, nor appreciate the sacrifice of our troops, have now made it their past-time to wage a campaign of disinformation against the military, especially in the social media. Doctored videos and pictures purporting to show massive military casualties are willfully circulated online. Such unpatriotic acts are discouraging and demoralising our troops, and must stop forthwith.
“Let me state that those who engage in this act of disinformation are few, and do not represent the majority of Nigerians who appreciate the patriotism and the sacrifice of our gallant troops. That’s why we are launching this campaign, to mobilise the majority of the good people of Nigeria, irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic leanings; to show support for our military,” the minister said.
He said the decision to enlighten Nigerians on the need to queue behind the military was devoid of politics. He also sought the cooperation of the media, in the fight against insurgents.
On his part, Defence spokesman, Brig-Gen. John Agim, pleaded with the media to show restraint in the dissemination of some information and noted that some stories have the capacity to trigger fear and panic in the society.