Urgency Required

At first, guerrilla tactics of moving in and tearing places apart with bombs and moving out was the modus operandi. Then, they got emboldened enough to begin to take territories. They became a ground force. It changed to moving in convoys to attack, among other places, armed forces garrisons for weapons and big towns for supplies. They also took women and children for support staff.

When the then government got serious enough to do in six weeks what it shied from doing in six years, it decimated their numbers while taking back those territories which made them  a ground force. Pushed back and with little of the bravado to operate in the open and in convoys, they have returned to the hit and run antics of guerrilla warfare.

This unconventional fare cannot be defeated by conventional tact without the backing of matching military intelligence and strategy. The old hands that have been pussyfooting while thousands of innocent and helpless Nigerians have met their untimely deaths and violent loss of body parts must be made to face the music of their recalcitrance. A more hands-on category of military eggheads with the capacity for intelligence and strategy and collaborating with the MNJTF must begin to bring an end to this insurgency with urgency.

It is nothing more than is expected of this new dispensation. The attacks are becoming too much to stomach. Their daredevilry must be checkmated by the militaristic professionalism that our men in uniform are popular for.

Enough is enough.

Respect The Contract

Yes, expectedly, you (in plural) here have called me out on my incessant upbraiding of the government of the day, asking that some of the mudslinging (if it's really so considered) should be hauled at the sponsors of terrorism and the terrorists themselves. I can identify with your pain (if such emotions truly exist) in how true some of the colours I've had to paint this administration in have come to light and have reflected poorly in your premises for being on the side of government. However, your penchant for dodging the real issues seems to be impervious of any curative measures. It seems you always need to be reminded of pertinent issues that no shouting match can silent. Well, here is more.

I remember what this same government you seem to be defending with all your might did when Jonathan's cousin was kidnapped in Bayelsa. The military personnel deployed evoked a Nigeria-at-war sentiment. The sheer number of Armoured Personnel Carriers engaged in trying to rescue one man was benumbing. They combed the entire area like fine hair and made sure that in no time the privileged cousin was back to the warm embrace of his family. Why was it so important then and not so now? Well, he was a close relative of the powers that be and as such, no expense was spared to get him and safely too.

But these girls? Who are they related to? Nobodies. Bloody civilians. They can roast for all this administration cares. Our military, given the right morale boosting, is worthy of great endeavours. But not when there is more politics at play than the fate of hapless children not priviledged enough to be from the political royalty. Not worthy enough to even have their parents consoled by the top echelon of political jobbers (until their hands were forced).

We did not elect Boko Haram for our welfare and safety. So, we don't point fingers at them. They are not answerable to us. So, we don't join issues with them. This government took upon itself that duty and responsibility and in so far as we play our part in paying their salaries and spending so much to make them comfortable enough to do their jobs (darn too much, more than enough), they pretty much must do it.

Underline the word MUST.

That is the social contract that binds us together and as clearly spelt out in the Constitution, the first priority of the government is the welfare of the citizenry. Don't let that escape your consideration.

(The YOUs know themselves)

What GEJ Hasn't Done That I Will Do

If you haven't been asked how you would've handled the Boko Haram insurgency Nigeria is experiencing because of your constant haranguing of this present crop of leaders, probably you've not been doing enough or it's still going to be asked of you. Sooner. The finer details of my "plan of action " may not be as simplistic as outlined below (no way I'm divulging sensitive confidential information in public) and several terms are CODED (and in quotes) on purpose, but here is the broad outline.

You cut off a leaking faucet from the source rather than spend time bailing the pool that gathers in the room. All indicators (from the make of their vehicles, the number of them on the move at the same time, to the premium quality of their ammunition) point to heavy financial sources of this malaise. It's foolhardy to believe government is absolutely ignorant of financiers of the violence. (Rumours suggest GEJ might be bidding his time so as not to ruffle the fabric of the Northern oligarch whose support is sine qua non for 2015)

If only to put these rumours to bed, these financiers must be "removed" from their capacity to provide funding for the dastardly acts the group has visited on their hapless victims. Removed PERMANENTLY. Having "fixed" the source, we can now begin to mop up what little spilling survives with the heft of militaristic finality.

To answer those who are Persistent-International-Aid-seekers, I don't see how we'd need any foreign aid in this strategy. We can more than fend for ourselves here. Our military isn't highly regarded across the board because we always shout "May Day!!! May Day!!!!" for assistance. It's the incessant political interference that has cheapened their abilities. We're so quick to ask for international assistance today, and tomorrow when they've infiltrated all nooks of our domestic engagements and begin to apply their acquired inside knowledge influentially for their nationalistic agendas we would be the same "patriots" to scream exploitation!