Fall of Sambisa Forest: It is Not Yet an Hurray, NGO Cautions FG, Military

A Non Governmental Organization ( NGO), Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative(ADAPHAI) on Wednesday cautioned the Federal Government and the Military over the euphoria the fall of  Sambisa forest has generated, saying it is not yet an hurray.

Speaking with newsmen on the development in Osogbo, the Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Olaniyi Ajibola maintained that the fall of Sambisa forest, which had been the headquarters of Book Haram sect does not specifically amount  to the end of terrorism in Nigeria,  described the feat as a ” means to an end” and not an end itself.

Ajibola argued that the capture of Camp Zero, the convergence point of Boko Haram terrorists in the past years has done nothing more than dislodging and dispersing the terrorists from their “safe haven” , and not a realistic incapacitation of the insurgents.

According to him, terrorism is an ideological struggle that is rooted in the minds of the proponents, saying the defeat of that mindset goes beyond change of base or location, but a conscious deradicalisation and demilitarisation efforts.

The Peace Advocate explained that the “conviction for action” (CFA), which revolved around the ideologies instilled in the insurgents, that propelled them to action has not been tackled, neither did Nigerian Army say anything about the cache of arms at the disposal of these terrorists,  he added that the capture of an empty camp would not be said to be a huge success against terrorism.

Ajibola noted that there was need for Nigerians to be more vigilant and more careful now than never before , because “the fall of Sambisa forest might turn out to be the rise of terrorists’ incursion” in many of Nigerian communities if government fails to act fast and mobilise all security agencies for swift and robust internal security and  surveillance.

He advised security agencies in the country to go back to drawing board and re-strategise against internal security threat the fall of Sambisa forest could generate, and nip any unfortunate incident in the bud.

“Terrorism is an asymmetrical war, it is not a front-line or conventional warfare, with calculated moves and predicted steps, it is indeed ideologically-driven and an action of conviction so, change in location of convergence might not significantly deter terrorists from carrying out their deeds.

” Against this backdrop, I am not convinced to the extent of joining the bandwagon of celebrants, on the fall of Camp Zero, the Boko Haram convergence arena and safe haven simply because the dislodgement might turn out to be a serious threat to internal security in Nigeria, as a result of desperate infiltration of many Nigerian communities by fleeing norinsurgents.

“Of course, the foiled suicide bombing attacks at the Maiduguri cow market on Monday, and the arrest of Boko Haram Commander in Lagos after the fall of the forest are pointers to the fact that it is not yet an hurray.

“Obviously, terrorism is a thing of mind, more so, when the Nigerian military has not come out to tell Nigerians the number of arms and ammunitions that were captured and seized from terrorists at the point when  Sambisa forest fell, or the discovery of Book Haram’s  source of armament, without this, Nigerians were just celebrating the capture of empty camp, nothing more.

” Sincerely, this is the time for more vigilance and profound security consciousness among Nigerians, we should not be caught unaware by any eventuality, we have to quickly learn from the past and stay alert and alive”, he asserted.

Ajibola however called on security agencies to pay more attentions to boarder strips, rural settlements and slums, where fleeing terrorists could consider as comfortable hideouts and cover.