The newly appointed Service Chiefs for Army, Navy and Air Force on Monday got marching orders from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshall Alex Badeh to end Boko Haram insurgency in three months.
He premised his order on the fact that he would not want to go and beg for extension of the state of emergency in three northern states at the end of its expiration in April.
Sequel to escalation of attacks occasioned by the activities of the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2013, declared a state of emergency in the three north eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
At the expiration of the emergency rule after six months, the then Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim, sought and got presidential approval and National Assembly’s nod for extension.
The new CDS, Badeh who was speaking shortly after taking over the mantle of leadership at the Defence headquarters, Abuja, however believed the new Service Chiefs could chase Boko Haram away for good by April if all hands are on deck.
Badeh said, “The crisis in the North East part of the country must be brought to an end by April 2014. The war against Boko Haram is already won.
“We must bring it to an end by that April so that we don’t have constitutional problem on our hands. We don’t want to go and beg the National Assembly again”.
To the members of the Boko Haram, he said “we are coming after you, “adding that the April target is achieveable with the collaboration of all the Service Chiefs.
Speaking earlier, the immediate past CDS, Admiral Ibrahim had this to say as he handed over, “these are challenging times for the Armed Forces; we have learnt lots of lessons. Like I often say, by these experiences our Armed Forces will come out of these challenges stronger.
“Remember the duty the Armed Forces of our great country owe to the President and Commander in Chief, President Goodluck Jonathan. The least our country expects is that this duty be discharged with honour, integrity and irreproachable goodwill”.
Admiral Ibrahim enjoined the officers and staff of Defence headquarters to extend hands of fellowship to his successor.
