The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), an amalgam of media groups supporting President Muhammadu Buhari, has extolled the nation’s security agencies especially the Armed Forces of Nigeria for “effectively collaborating with one another” in the ongoing operations against Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism and banditry in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said the synergy among security agencies has made it easier for troops to be more effective in dealing with the country’s security challenges and registering the recent spate of successes.
According to the group, “we have in recent times seen an improvement in military operations, especially in the ongoing war against insurgency which has seen as many as 5,000 Boko Haram terrorist surrender, alongside members of their families, in just a few weeks.
“This, from all indications, has to do with simultaneous, joint air and ground assault on the hideouts of the terrorists on the fringes of the Lake Chad, rather than the military sitting back and waiting for the insurgents to launch hit-and-run attacks.
“We also invite Nigerians to note that the ongoing operations against bandits in the North West are also a joint one that also includes operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and elite forces from other agencies.
“So the leadership of the security agencies deserves commendation for the renewed intra-agency support against insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements across Nigeria.”
BMO also urged the military establishment not to be distracted in their quest to stem the tide of insecurity, stating that “we have noticed that as the military are quietly going ahead with the operations against bandits in Zamfara, they are also having to contend with a number of distractions from some individuals and groups.
“One of them is the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi who was quoted to have said military action would not work against the bandits, and later added that the criminal elements have perfected ways of escaping military assault on their forest hideouts.
“There is also the case of people sharing videos of mass graves ostensibly from Zamfara which could be interpreted to mean indiscriminate killings bordering on human rights abuses in the theatre of operation.
“And although the military has swiftly denied that the mass graves have anything to do with any ongoing operation, we want to reaffirm their message that Nigerian troops have been conducting themselves in line with international rules of engagement, even against those criminal elements.
“We also urge officers and men of the armed forces not to be distracted by Gumi’s position on military action against those who have proved by their action to be enemies of the State.”
The group also solicited public support for the nation’s security agencies in their quest to address insecurity in some parts of the country.
