Boko Haram: Buhari sends Defence Minister to Chad
President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly dispatched the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali (Rtd), to the neighbouring Republic of Chad for an urgent meeting with President Idris Deby.
This may not be unconnected to recent cases of attack by the Boko Haram at the Chad Basin especially in Borno State.
Top diplomatic sources, according to the report, said Dan–Ali will meet with the Chadian president over the resurgence of Boko Haram.
A source had long time ago said in Lagos that “With President Buhari now in the saddle, he should take the war against insurgency killing Nigerians under PDP to Chad”, adding that “takibg the war against Boko Haram to Chad is winning the war because, background of the leader of that country has a lot to worry about why it is from that direction the insurgents come from”.
On the latest move by President Buhari, the report said: “There is a problem in the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF put together to secure the Lake Chad basin areas and repeal the Boko Haram terrorism attacks against all the countries neighbouring the Lake,” one of the sources said.
The sources revealed that Chad is believed to be having their own internal security challenges and this has reportedly led to their pulling away their own troops manning their own boarder around Lake Chad.
“That lacuna is being exploited by the Boko Haram terrorists, who go in and out of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to launch terrorist acts. This is a clear illustration of the fact that terrorism is beyond national borders,” he said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said he is aware that the Defence Minister is going to Chad but said he is unaware of his mission there.
Only three days ago, former President Goodluck Jonathan said that it was Boko Haram issue and kidnap of Chibok girls that APC used to send him out of power.
Following that, PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar, after paying what he called condolence visit to Chief of Army Staff on killing of soldiers in the North East area, made a statement that some citizens have expressed concerns about.
Atiku said President Buhari should tell Nigerians the type of support he is giving Nigerian Army that made those soldiers to die by the hands of the assailants.
Although the Atiku’s statement is being considered as loaded, those who believe Chad angle needs to be tackled urgently, commended the move by him to send his Defence Minister to the neighbouring country for meeting with the President.
