Fayemi Suggests Military Coalition With Chad, Others To Defeat B’Haram, Bandits

The Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said the security challenges in the country appeared to overwhelm the military and has suggested a joint operation with other countries.

Fayemi, who is the Ekiti State Governor said the military needed to be supported by forces from countries surrounding Nigeria who he said had more experience in
asymmetrical warfare.

The governor said it would not be a loss of pride if Nigeria should ask for support from its neighbours.

Fayemi, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said this during his visit to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to condole with the government and people of the state over the attack by the Boko Haram insurgents, where over 40 farmers were slaughtered.

Fayemi was accompanied to Borno by his collegaues, governor of Sokoto and the Vice Chairman of the Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and that of Niger State, Abubakar Bello.

He said governors were worried about lack of solution to the insecurity problem in many parts of the country, saying the situation had become frustraing.

He stressed that the military was overwhelmed and needed support to tackle the problem of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery affecting many parts of the country.

He said: “But what happened in the last three days is by far beyond any imagination, it was a massacre and it was one that none of us could come to terms easily.

“The reality we can all say, and I personally as a security scholar, the reality I can see is that our military is overwhelmed. Our military is no longer in a position to single-handedly tackle this menace effectively.

“It is not a criticism of our military, if one were to suggest a coalition beyond that will even include our neighbouring countries, who are probably more experienced in fighting an asymmetrical war. It will not be a loss of our pride as a country.

“This is not a visit to gratify ourselves, no, it is an expression of also our own frustration.

“We can’t bring back the people we have lost in the last couple of days, but if we do not take the necessary steps the entire nation will be consumed by this insurgency.”

Zulum said, “We need to address the underlying causes of the insurgency while appreciating the effort of the Federal Government in implementing some policies that are geared towards addressing poverty in the entire nation.”