Expdonaloaded News; Boko Haram: We’ll expose sponsors –Army

THE Nigerian Army sounded tough yes­terday when it declared its readiness to expose collaborators of last week’s bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Theatre Commandant of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Yusha’u Abuba­kar told newsmen that no amount of distraction would derail the Army from keeping faith with meeting the December deadline to end insurgency in the North-east.

He also said any facility used by Boko Haram to commit their criminality or ter­ror acts will henceforth be demolished and owners treated as collaborators.
Abubakar said the Command Centre would no longer tolerate facilities of resi­dents of communities in the North-east states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, be­ing used by Boko Haram fighter to perpe­trate their violent activities.
“Henceforth, we will demolish any fa­cility used by Boko Haram to carry out their criminal acts,” the General warned.
He said residents ought to know that security is a personal issue and as such should be conscious of their environment and take their security more serious.
He pointed out that the bombings were aimed at diverting the attention of the military from achieving its target in the ongoing anti-terrorism war.
“I want to assure all that for every sec­ond that passes, we get more committed to fighting the insurgents; we cannot be deterred.
“We are doing as much as we could to ensure that we completely eradicate the insurgents as quickly as possible because we are aware of the timeline within which to complete the task,’’ he declared.
He said the military had already got clues about those involved in the recent suicide bombings in Maiduguri.
“We searched the houses and certain items that we recovered at the vicinity gave us some clues,’’ Abubakar said.
He said although investigations had commenced on the clues, it would take time before reaching a conclusion.
“Investigation on those that we suspect are either participating or hiding, fueling or conniving with those that carried out those acts, is ongoing. They will be ex­posed in due course,’’ Abubakar assured.
He said the Command expects citizens and people of the affected states in the North-east to increase their support to the security agencies in their area to end in­surgency and other criminal elements.
“People need to make security a prior­ity. We must all be concerned and con­scious of our security than before. We shouldn’t think or assume security is the duty of security agencies alone,” he added.
Gen Abubakar said the military has got some facilities that would help it and other security agencies “understand the index of the Boko Haram perpetrators,” adding that the recent increase in bomb attack would not deter the military from smoking out Boko Haram in the North-east or any parts of the country.
“We cannot be deterred, we’re doing as much as we can to completely eradicate insurgency especially giving the time-line given to us by the president,” he de­clared. He said the army chief, Lt.Gen Yusuf Buratai has shown leadership by example by not only visiting troops in battle-field but also participating in some operational activities even in the night.