Charges MNJTF To End Terrorism
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, November 29, charged the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operating in the Lake Chad Basin to do everything possible to end terrorism in the region.
Speaking at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari, who ended his tenure as Chairman of the Commission at the end of the Summit, equally urged his colleagues from the other five member-countries to provide the required political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF to motivate the formations to deliver on their mandates.
President of the Transition Military Council of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, took over as Chairman of the LCBC Summit at the expiration of Buhari’s term.
In his final speech as chairman of the summit, Buhari noted that the fight against Boko Haram and other threats in the region must remain the number one priority, assuring the MNJTF of the commitment of the leaders of the region to troops’ welfare and equipment.
He stated: “To our gallant troops in the field, ensuring the safety and stability of the region, we recommit ourselves to sustaining the ongoing counterterrorism efforts by providing you with the requisite needs to function optimally.
“I wish to assure you that your welfare would continue to remain our priority. I urge you all to rededicate yourselves as we take the final push towards eradicating terrorism from our Region. Together, we shall restore and transform the Lake Chad Region to its former glory.
“I equally express sincere gratitude to our partners for the support they continue to offer us in our joint collaborative efforts to fight the challenges that have hampered the sustainable development of the region, particularly climate change and terrorism. Together, we have shown that with commitment and with the desired support, we can achieve success.
“We, therefore, must continue to remain committed to ensuring that the diversity in the region continues to be a source of strength and positive cohesive force for the people of the Lake Chad Region.
“My dear brother-Presidents, we must remain unrelenting in providing the needed political and material support for the LCBC/MNJTF in its efforts at delivering regional initiatives that will revamp the Lake Chad and revitalise the socio-economic activities of the region.
“The fight against Boko Haram and other forms of criminality in the region must remain issues on the front burner of discourse in the region.”
Meanwhile, Buhari has stated that the simmering Russia/Ukraine conflict, as well as other violent situations in the Sahel region of West Africa was compounding the Boko Haram terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin region.
The President contended that weapons and fighters were already slipping into the region from Russia and Ukraine, thereby heightening the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, a situation he stressed calls for reawakening of the border security of the countries of the region.
He noted that though much had been done to decimate the strength of the Boko Haram and other violent extremist groups in the region, terrorists threats still persist, adding: “I am glad to inform my dear brothers that in keeping with that decision, the MNJTF has since then, successfully conducted three major operations, Ops‘YANCIN TAFKI (I&II) and Ops Lake Sanity I, with, the fourth one, Ops Lake Sanity II, being planned.
“The next phase of the operation will take cognizance of lessons learnt from previous exercises and effectively consolidating the gains attained by preceding Ops.
“I am glad to note that during the execution of Ops Lake Sanity I, regrouping terrorists in the Lake Chad Islands were effectively decimated.
“It must, however, be stated that despite the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the MNJTF and the various ongoing national operations in the region, the terrorist threats still lurks in the region.
“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in Lake Chad Region. A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunitions procured to execute the war in Libya continue to find its way to the Lake Chad Region and other parts of the Sahel. Weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia are equally beginning to filter to the region.
“This illegal movement of arms into the region has heightened the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which continue to threaten our collective peace and security in the region. There is, therefore, the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by our border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region.”
Buhari said more than the military solution, governments of the region need to complement the ongoing efforts with the provision of sustainable development projects that would make life more conducive for the people and restore their confidence in the state.
According to him: “Although terrorist threats have been significantly decimated in the region, it is worthy of note that military actions alone cannot effectively win the war against terrorism. There is the overriding need to complement military operations with the provision of sustainable development projects that will ameliorate the living conditions of the affected people in the region.
“Government presence must be positively felt in the area to restore the confidence of citizens in the ability of the State to protect them and provide basic infrastructure for all.
“It is in view of the foregoing, that the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected areas of the region must gain further traction without any delay.”
Who attended the summit include President of the Central African Republic (CAR), Prof. Faustine Archange Touadera; President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic; President Patrice Tallon of Republic of Benin; Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno of Chad and Chairman, Presidential Council of Libya, Mohamed Al-Menfi.
President Paul Biya of Cameroun was represented by one of his ministers.
