'Why Boko Haram is launching fresh attacks' - Army Chief

dimeji akinloye

November 8, 2016 5:35 PM

Buratai emphasised that Nigeria urgently needs local and international support to get rid of Boko Haram

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General

Buratai stated this in Abuja Monday, November 8, at the Army Resource Centre on the sideline of a meeting with a security delegation from the Atlantic Council, African Centre in the United States of America.

He stressed that Nigeria urgently needs local and international support to stop the deadly group.

"We have some elements who are within this society and are still supporting them clandestinely," he said.

"So the support of every Nigerian is very key to the end of this terrorism."

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The army chief also said that the role of the Army in prosecuting the counter-terrorism crusade in the northeast has been misinterpreted.

He said: "There have been many misgivings on the role of the Nigerian Army as it relates to human rights abuses, rules of engagement (as well as) treatment of civilians and Internally Displaced Persons.

"Hence, the need to conduct an assessment on the threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria with emphasis on roles of (the) Nigeria Army has become imperative."

In his remark, the leader of the security delegation, John Peter-Pham, stressed the need to cut terrorists financing.

"As an American and as an analyst, I believe that there are few fights currently going on in the world today and that is important not only to Nigeria, but to its neighbours in the international community as the repression of terrorist financing which has not only caused untold human suffering but also, its a setback for regional integration and economic growth," Peter-Pham said.

The meeting was convened to assess the threats of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

dimeji akinloye