Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism has hailed the 36 state governors of the country under the aegis of Governors’ Forum for its resolve to use $1 billion out of the savings from the nation’s Excess Crude Account (ECA) to combat insurgency and terrorism.
The group in a statement signed by its national President, Comrade Gabriel Onoja, said such act is a demonstration of patriotism and commitment to ease the country from the clutches of terrorism and extremism.
The group further commended President Muhammadu Buhari and his service chiefs saying they have shown capacity to appreciate the depth of the problem and not toy with the lives and destinies of people as was the practice in the past.
“Though much success has been recorded in the fight against insurgency by the current administration which saw to the sacking of Boko Haram fighters in many communities in the North-eastern part of the country, freed 13 local governments from their rule and seized the flag and Quran of the leader of the sect, though the war has been won, the battle is not over.
“Terrorism, just like an epidemic cannot be termed as subdued if remnants of its causative agents and malignant germs are left to foster, no matter how insignificant their number”.
The group explained that although, It is true that the sect has been degraded and technically defeated, the recent attack on soft targets has indicated that there are remnants of the sect not only fighting for survival but seeking ways to relaunch their deadly attacks on the citizenry.
It argued that there was need to approach the matter holistically and with military precision so that total success would be achieved adding that, that may have necessitated the request by the federal government and its subsequent approval by the state governors.
The Coalition expressed confidence that the Federal Government would judiciously apply the funds for the purpose it is meant for.
“Unlike in the past where such funds were seen as slush funds that and arbitrarily disbursed to cronies of those in government in the most shameful and brazen manners, we have absolute confidence in the current administration that the funds would be used for the purpose it is meant for and every single kobo would be accounted for.
“This step should be seen as a commitment by the Nigerian State to take care of a cancerous problem and this involves the purchase of more military hard and soft wares, communication gadgets, fighter jets and helicopter gun ships, drones and other surveillance equipment to achieve success.
“All these require huge amount but the need would be appreciated against the backdrop of the enormous problem it is set to solve”.
The statement further called on Nigerians to support the mop up operations in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.
