The retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who served as the former Chief of Army Staff, stated in an interview in Abuja that President Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled his promise to defeat the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists. Buratai remembered that in President Buhari’s inaugural address on May 29th, 2015, he pledged to overcome these terror groups. Although, the former COAS warned that thinking that the victory over the Boko Haram terrorists signified the complete end of hostilities is incorrect and will only occur when the terrorists renounce their ideology, adopt democracy, abide by the national constitution, and seek peace.
Buratai explained that from the start of his presidency, Buhari had clear strategies to overcome the terrorists and bring peace back to the North East and the entire country. He reminded the audience of Buhari’s announcement in his inaugural speech that the military command center would be relocated to Maiduguri and remain there until Boko Haram was fully subdued.
Buratai affirmed that the Buhari administration has defeated the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism, and the president was fully equipped with a complete understanding of the root causes of the insurgency and terrorism. According to Buratai, the Boko Haram insurgency was allowed to worsen before 2015 due to official mismanagement, neglect, complacency, and collusion, which resulted in Boko Haram becoming a formidable force, taking many lives and capturing numerous towns and villages. He added that the murder of Muhammad Yusuf by the police was clearly a case of extrajudicial killing, and the negligence, complacency, and collusion with the leaders of Boko Haram for selfish reasons led to the insurgency becoming a full-blown nightmare.
