We can’t say Boko Haram menace is over now — Osinbajo

ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo has observed that the war on Boko Haram insurgency cannot be declared over now because they are still able to carry out sporadic suicide bombings.

But he is optimistic that the radical sect has been degraded and all territories they formerly occupied retrieved from them.

The acting President made the declaration after presiding over a meeting of service chiefs who were at the Presidential Villa, to brief him on the security situation in the country on Wednesday.   Asked when he expects the Boko Haram menace to end, he said: “As you know the Boko Haram as a military force has been degraded, they are not holding territory at the moment.

“Our armed forces have been able to dislodge them from practically all territories they were holding in the past.

“What are happening now are just once in a while attacks by suicide bombers. By the nature of asymmetric warfare, we are not able to say it has ended now.

“But I think that militarily they have been contained. There is no question at all that Boko Haram as a fighting force has been degraded.

“We are still vigilant because of their capacity to do damage with suicide bombers. I am very satisfied with what the military has done so far.‎

“And the briefing has shown graphically that they are really on top of their game and that they are doing excellently well in the north east.”

Osinbajo dismissed suggestions that his presiding over security meetings could be an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari may not return to office.

He said: “No no! Almost every month these briefings are held. It is routine and it is the president who puts in place this whole idea of regular briefing.

“It is even more important that we do so because of some of the issues arising like the cases of kidnappings and I wanted the IG to inform us fully.

“Besides, the President is a process person and certainly I am going to speak with him here on developments here. So, it is not an indication of anything. It is only an indication that we are committed ‎to the security of the nation.

“The primary duty of government is to ensure lives and properties and that is why we have to be regularly briefed. ‎

“The good thing is that our men are going extraordinarily well in the North East and that Southern Kaduna has also been contained. The peace building process is also going on very well.”