By Augustine Ehikioya
A former Chief of Army Staff, and former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd) has offered reasons for the resurgence of the activities of Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries.
Exonerating the Nigerian Armed Forces from the current upsurge, he noted that there are key issues that are currently being abandoned or neglected.
Gen Buratai, who was a key player in bringing down activities of Boko Haram under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, spoke during a television programme monitored by Security Watch Africa (SWA).
He said, “Now fast forward to this period. What is happening? Niger is out of ECOWAS, Burkina Faso, Mali, are out of ECOWAS. And you know the implication. They are also moving out of the Multinational Joint Task Force. Or they have even moved out, and their activity is limited.
“The same thing with Chad, it is hampering operations. And that is the cause of the resurgence of the Boko Haram, especially in the North East, because those borders are porous right now.
“So you continue to blame the Armed Forces or the military of this thing, but fundamentally, you have that key issue that has been abandoned or neglected for now. You know, the MNJTF is a fundamental force that is helping. We have collaborated, and we had operated with.”
He also pointed out that foreign interference has been a challenge and causing destabilisation in the African continent.
Gen Buratai cited the case of Libya and other African countries.
“Let me just add also one of the challenges the president, you know, have said, you know, foreign interference is a major challenge, also. Not only of recent, but even when you look at it in the past.
“Historically, they have interfered into a government, topple heads of states and governments in the past, very unfortunately.
“And of recent you can see they tried to branch to Burkina Faso. So foreign interference on the African continent is a big challenge. It’s a very big challenge.
“And the earlier they know this and we counter it or they leave us, I think it’s better for us to chart our own course and move forward.
“And look at how Libya was destroyed, Gaddafi was killed. Essentially, that is what is happening in Sudan today. You know, they have so much interfered with our internal affairs in terms of destabilising the country and bringing so much insecurity.
“So it’s a big challenge, and we hope, with our advocacy in this context, the League of Africa Ambassadors will voice out, and we hope appropriate action will be taken.
According to him, a wonderful diplomatic move was started under former President Goodluck Jonathan and continued under former President Buhari.
He declared that diplomacy is fundamental in countering insecurity.
He said, “Now coming back to your question, very, very fundamental question. You see, I would take it historical. It’s very fundamental, the period during Jonathan, he started a wonderful diplomatic move that gave rise to the Multinational Joint Task Force. Several meetings were held between 2014 and early 2015, where African Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence, met and brought about the new Multinational Joint Task Force in order to fight insecurity.
“And several meetings were held in Abuja, in other parts, in Chad, in Cameroon and in Niger, to bring about this MNJTF that has been fighting.
“And by the time President Buhari came in 2015, he also continued diplomatic move.
“So diplomacy is quite fundamental in countering the insecurity we have presently, not in Nigeria in particular, all other places.
“We must continue with this diplomatic move. Unfortunately, as of today, you know, our diplomats are not yet in place. You know, if they are in place, I’m sure so many things can be remedied.” Gen Buratai stated.
