Insurgency: The Military Will Takeover Captured Towns Soon - Chief of Army Staff

Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Army Staff

With less than three months to general elections next year, there are faint hopes election will take place in the insurgency-rocked states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The chairman senate committee on Defence and army, George Sekibo disclosed that the situation will depend on how quickly Nigeria can reclaim lost territories now in Boko haram’s control and restore peace in the areas.

Sekibo was speaking when the Chief of Army Staff Kenneth Minimah appeared before his committee on Thursday.

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Kenneth Minimah was at the senate on Thursdays summoned to respond to worsening insurgency in the northeast and explain why Boko Haram seems to be gaining the upper hand.

George Sekibo, Chairman Senate committee on Defence and Army said, “We need to know exactly where we and where we have problems.”

But the Army Chief wasn’t going to speak in full glare of journalist, insisting to do so only behind close doors.

No amount of prompting was going to make Minimah shift his grounds.

After two and a half hours the doors were open to the journalist. The senate committee says it is satisfied with the performance of the military. Convinced from the assurances given it that territories now in Boko Haram’s control will be taken back in no time.

George Sekibo further said, “The assurance the military has given to us is that in a couple of weeks they will be able to take over those places.”

It was only then that Minima offered to say something.

Minima said, “I think it is a better show now than to having to have made  statements before the briefing because I could also goof and you will celebrate the goofing.”

Towns like Mubi have fallen in the hands of the Boko Haram in a major upset two weeks ago, casting strong doubt on elections in 2015. Nigeria has between now and February to flush out insurgents and reclaim lost territories if there is to be any hope of elections to take place in the troubled state of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe but at the moment there is no assurance.

George Sekibo further said, “If we are able to get back all the territories that have been captured by insurgents and there is peace in those areas then they can vote for the elections.”

Nigeria’s slammed state of emergency in the affected states in May and that emergency is about to expire with faint hope that insurgency will go away.

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