Nigeria Times

By David Onmeje

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” -Gen. Douglas MacArthur, US Army.
The surge of anger in Nigeria’s numero uno soldier, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai against Boko Haram criminals and their buddies, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists is palpable and explosive. The Chief of Army Staff and leader of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria is smoldering and has gone for the broke against tormentors of the country in whatever configuration.   
About mid-April 2020, Gen. Buratai surprised Nigerians when he suddenly announced his decision to relocate to the trenches in the Northeast, lead the anti-terrorism combats from the frontlines and remain rooted on the battlefield until terrorists are completely routed out of Nigeria.
It’s understandable that the Army Chief now goes ruthlessly tougher on the Boko Haram criminals and bastards. He has tried both military and peaceful options, or what others have known as “stick and carrot” approach. But the bloodcurdling bastards, still market themselves in fake bragging might.
Gen. Buratai believes, terrorists of whatever hue cannot repress the African totem of excellence in war-the Nigerian Army or turn Nigeria into a conquered territory insofar as he breathes life.  
Like others of like minds, a veteran and dexterous war philosopher, Gen. George S. Patton believed that “Always do everything you ask of those you command.”   Therefore, the vexatious Gen. Buratai laced his boot and hopped into the theatre of war, leading the offensives against terrorists himself.  He has not taken the action merely for expletives. Its not the first time; but the difference now is his vow never to return to Abuja until Boko Haram dissipates completely out of Nigeria.
So, as a prelude to his current outing, Gen.  Buratai embarked on operational tour of troops locations in the Northeast theatre of war, refreshed or updated his intelligence reports, met, interacted and patrolled together with troops in the warzone.
It was American war veteran and diplomat, Colin Powell who said, “The most important thing, I learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes and lecture them forever, but it is your personal example they will follow.” So, Gen. Buratai has elevated his style of leadership by example to a new realm.
To clairvoyant minds, Gen. Buratai had conquered terrorists some four years ago. That thrice, insurgents fruitlessly attempted to sniff life out of him in ambushes in the Northeast, where most of them perished in gun battles and his demystification of Sambisa forest, Boko Haram’s most dreaded enclave are ample evidence of the defeat of terrorists. Gen. Buratai and Nigerian troops are out now for the final interment ceremony of remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, which will come easy and seamlessly soon.
 So, he is personally in the frontlines to lead the funeral of terrorists, grasshopping from territory to territory with troops, coordinating, leading an avalanche of assaults and combing the vestiges of terrorists in all identified hideouts. The results in less than a week have been exceptionally marvelous and still counting. Gen. Buratai and troops have colonized all insurgents’ hideouts on the fringes of the three focal states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa Northeast. It has thrown terrorists in irrecoverable disarray.
In almost simultaneous operations against terrorists, Nigerian troops of Sector 2, Operation Lafiya Dole neutralized over 105 insurgents at Buni Gari village in Gujba LGA, Yobe state and their weapons confiscated.
With eyes still fixated on Yobe and on revenge, the terrorists again amassed to attack Geidam; but troops of 159 Battalion in Sector 2 in collaboration with the Air Task Force of OPLD met the criminals fire for fire.  And it was another black day for terrorists as at least 13 of them were killed in the encounter and weapons seized, as the few lucky survivors, who lost the strength to battle hastened for escape and were hotly chased. Terrorists retrieved no weapon, but lost everything they brought to the battlefront.
 Day and night, Gen. Buratai leads troops to engage Boko Haram insurgents in intensified onslaughts and fierce gun battles to ensure they are finally dislodged and ousted from Nigeria.
Gen. Buratai’s presence in the theatre of operation has ensured, no Boko Haram hideout is impenetrable to Nigerian troops or an adversity too strong to surmount by the Army. Former US Secretary of State & Secretary of Defense Gen.  George C. Marshall, once opinionated that; “The truly great leader overcomes all difficulties, and campaigns and battles are nothing but a long series of difficulties to be overcome. The lack of equipment, the lack of food, the lack of this and that are only excuses; the real leader displays his quality in his triumphs over adversity, however great it may be.”
So, the warmonger does not romance any obstacle; no bulwark mounted against Nigeria troops in the warfront is too difficult to break; the rough terrain of the Northeast has rather become an added booster of strength to Nigerian forces. The leader of the counter-insurgency operation’s only obsession now is the ruthless burying of the final ghost of Boko Haram and its allies in Nigeria.  
And the bells are resonating loudly in this direction and terrorists’ camps, together with their sponsors are shuddering endlessly. The phobia of the last day of doom for terrorists’ honchos and top commanders’ inches nearer with each passing day. It is scary and dreary to the bloodsuckers, who have decoded Gen. Buratai’s lucid language of “no retreat, no surrender.”  
Scared to his pants, the formerly “invincible” factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau is pleading for a chance to ceasefire reticently. He is pleading to chicken out of the battle for a soft-landing now that it is irremediably raining bullets and his camp are suffering casualties on the frontlines.  Shekau’s only fortress, the Timbuktu triangle in Borno is assailed by Nigerian troops.
Shekau is prepared and so desperate to surrender. He has been making frantic efforts through proxies who have mounted pressures on some International Non-Governmental Organisations to anchor an armistice deal with the Nigerian Government towards granting him amnesty.
Some Nigerians who are perpetual doubting Thomases may think the news reports are a ruse and mere propaganda stunts. But they have missed the gist.  Since Gen. Buratai assumed leadership of the counter-operations in Nigeria, the previously haughty, vicious and audacious Abubakar Shekau has never found his operations of festering the evil against Nigerian smooth any longer.  
Not only that the momentum and frequency of Shekau’s videos of boastful and horrendous killings of Nigerians as the people grieved have scaled down almost to zero,  but he has also lost the nerve and energy to partake in gruesome operations, preferring to use foot soldiers who have consistently and generously met their waterloo in the hands of Nigerian Army on the battle turf. Nigerians; Shekau has lost incredible top commanders, foot soldiers to the Nigerian military these past years.   
Today is not the first time Shekau would wail loudly about his declining fortunes in the extremist war he wedged against Nigeria. For instance, in one of Shekau’s released videos’ in 2017, after Nigerian troops gave him hard kicks on the ankles by serial defeats, he publicly lamented his frustrations about the inevitable possibility of defeat in the war, as he became a loner in the war.
In another February 2018 video, Shekau who became a fugitive and remained in the cooler for nearly a year, feebly threatened Nigeria by pleading with his foot soldiers to unleash attacks on infidels in major cities of the country like Abuja and Lagos among others. Neither himself nor adherents have been able to execute this threat.  
Not long ago, Shekau again bemoaned publicly how Gen. Buratai was killing them (terrorists), who are Muslims; but claims to be a Muslim. His latest clandestine attempts to surrender the war and himself to the Nigerian authorities is just one of his several preceding signs of death as echoed by Shakespeare that “a coward dies many times before his death.”  
But unfortunately, Nigerians are thinking that Abubakar Shekau’s contemplation of truce and surrender to the Nigerian Government for a possible amnesty is a little bit belated. And having abused earlier gestures of truce and reconciliation, Gen. Buratai appears to be too angry now beyond appeasement and mulling ceasefire now is unwise. An opportunity once lost, most times, is never regained.
Besides, the COAS has renewed his order that Abubakar Shekau be captured alive at the cost of anything.  And the Army Chief looks poised to prove a point to Nigerians.  It seems the fear of Buratai, the “Peoples General,” as he is feted, is the beginning of wisdom. The situation looks very grim for Shekau.  
If gleaned from the mindset of the Nigerian Military, Abubakar Shekau is welcomed to surrender after defeat and exhaustion in the years of internecine war he unleashed against his compatriots. But he must not forget that he will not be welcomed with pomp and pageantry into the communal life of Nigerians.
But he is assured that only the volley of wailings of the innocent souls he initiated, participated and supervised their gruesome mass deaths will be waiting for him at Eagle Square, Abuja to tear him into shreds. No one is scaring him not to surrender; but it is also nice for him to know the fate which awaits him from Nigerians in the event he surrenders. 
Like Capt. Bill Murphy said at end of every briefing to soldiers deployed to fight in 2003 Iraqi war; “Good luck, Godspeed, and come home safe;” Gen. Buratai and Nigerian troops, good luck and come home safe with the terrorists’ honcho, Abubakar Shekau. Nigerians awaits him!

Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.

By Abe Kolawole

Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France), ASF France, recently released a statement indicating that security agencies in Nigeria are violating the rights of citizens in the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown. I read the report with utter disbelief. I could not, as a first, place, the rationale for such diatribe in this critical time in the country.

I concluded that it was of poor taste and somewhat an attempt to cause a distraction to the efforts of our security agencies in the country in this critical assignment they are tasked with. ASF did not only goof, and they also displayed hatred and ignorance at the same time.

As a first, they stated that “It is disheartening that the brutality of security agencies in the course of enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown has resulted to more deaths than the pandemic.” if this isn’t an insult to our sensibilities as Nigerians, I do not know how else to describe it. It is my considered opinion that it was indeed a joke taken too far in the feeble attempt to cause a distraction that would ultimately serve the purpose of their paymasters.
We must admit that from all indications, France seems to have some grudges with our security agencies with regards to the war against terrorism in Nigeria. It is on record that France has been covertly fueling the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria through the sponsorship of groups to distract and paint our security agencies in a bad light.

Back to the ASF, it is sad that such half-truths could be circulated in the media with impunity regardless of whose ox is gored. They have decided to turn the truth on its head in fulfillment of their nefarious mandate. Is the ASF telling us that they are not in the know of the various efforts of our security agencies in ensuring that a code of conduct guides security personnel on duty?

Is the ASF not also aware that our various security agencies have issued advisories on how to go about reporting issues of excessive use of force by security personnel? I recall that the Nigerian Army issued directives and availed the citizenry hotlines to report cases of excessive use of force by its personnel. This was a move that was widely commended by all and sundry.

In the light of the posturing of the ASF, I dare to say that there is more than meets the eyes. The position of ASF reeks of a dubious and fraudulent attempt to cry wolves where none exists. I dare to state that ASF, in their wisdom, is acting out the script of their paymasters holed up in France and not happy with the various efforts of the Nigerian government in the containment of the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.

In their mischief, they could not do their homework well by stating that the brutality of security agencies in the course of enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in more deaths than the pandemic. This is an apparent lack of common sense and an indication that their paymasters in France have mandated the ASF to cause maximum damage in Nigeria.

From all indications, ASF is nothing but the intellectual wing of the French interest to destabilize Nigeria, in addition to their demonic activities in North-East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region. The presence of groups like the ASF in Nigeria is ultimately to serve one purpose, which is to destabilize Nigeria. And this much they have begun with the disjointed and illogical accusation of security operatives violating the rights of Nigerian citizens in the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Nigerian government must rise to the occasion to ensure that dubious groups like the ASF do not succeed in heating the polity and poisoning the minds of Nigerians. We do need such distractions for now as we continue in our efforts towards halting the further spread of the Coronavirus.

There is nothing like brutality and extra-judicial killings of civilians by security agents in Nigeria, and the ASF cannot claim to know more than Nigerians. We are Nigerians, and we know what is happening in Nigeria. The ASF and their paymasters should do well to leave Nigeria to handle its issues. They should quit playing to the gallery and not in a period where countries are batting the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The ASF should instead look to France where Police fought running battles in at least five suburbs of Paris with residents who accused officers of using heavy-handed tactics to enforce France’s strict coronavirus lockdown where residents burnt cars and shot fireworks at police, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas in the northern suburbs of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Aulnay-sous-Bois.

This much the ASF should concentrate on instead of distorting facts about human rights violations and what have you in Nigeria. This despicable attempt failed woefully as it is clear that it is nothing but a puerile attempt in courting public attention to the detriment of the peace and tranquility enjoyed in Nigeria since the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Having stated the above, it must be stated that the ASF must do well to enlighten us about brutality and where such brutality occurred in Nigeria. They should also do well to inform us about flagrant abuse and excessive use of force by security agents during enforcement. They should also tell us about what is happening in France compared to Nigeria and make an informed decision. The ASF should understand that their antics can’t fool Nigerians.

Charity, as they say, must begin from home. As such, the ASF must remain committed to assisting victims of human rights abuses, and help their families seek justice in France where there are widespread cases of excessive use of force and brutality by French police on French citizens.

I wonder when France would give up on their nefarious plot against Nigeria. This recent diatribe by the ASF is just one of those many attempts at destabilizing Nigeria since they could no longer make any headway in North-East Nigeria through the sponsorship of groups parading themselves as International NGOs but actively involved in espionage activities.

The ASF is no different from these dubious groups, and this much they have displayed through their recent attempt that was dead on arrival. This much we know.

KOLAWOLE is former Public Relations Officer, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

By Jacob Ochimana
 
“Terrorism isn’t a crime against people or property. It’s a crime against our minds, using the death of innocents and destruction of property to make us fearful. Terrorists use the media to magnify their actions and further spread fear. And when we react out of fear, when we change our policy to make our country less open, the terrorists succeed — even if their attacks fail. But when we refuse to be terrorized, when we’re indomitable in the face of terror, the terrorists fail — even if their attacks succeed.”- Bruce Schneier
 
The Global War on terrorism is a dazzling and mesmerizing warfare, full of tricks and excruciating pains across the globe.  Terrorists stealthily strike their targets and disappears into a void, an act which keep sentinels perpetually on guard.  The asymmetrical nature of terrorism wars has prolonged anti-terrorism combats throughout the world.  
Notwithstanding, victory against terrorism has been possible despite the longevity of combats. In spite of the stealthy character of terrorism wars, an organized and strong Army resists and eventually sends terrorists to the gallows. British author, Salman Rushdie gives a glimmer of assurance, as he asks; “How do you defeat terrorism? Don’t be terrorized.”
Nigeria embraced this destiny with the emergence of Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter-insurgency operations. His colleagues in the Military celebrated his appointment, hence aware that he has earned the medal of an endowed, tough first grade combatant soldier and leader of immense treasures. They knew he had the nerve, courage and the capacity to give Boko Haram terrorists a bloody nose.
And Gen. Buratai flaunts an enviable credentials in such warfare. Sequel to his leadership of counter-insurgency operations, Gen. Buratai had carved a niche for himself as Commander of various military operations in the dreadful days of the Niger Delta militants and elsewhere. He also piloted affairs of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).  He came to lead the counter-insurgency operations loaded like a volcano waiting to explode in the battle turf against terrorists.
 
 Quite sensibly, the Army Chief realized that he needed to raise a strong and professional Army from the decrepit soldiers he inherited. A philosopher, Confucius once cautioned that “To lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away.”
Therefore, Gen. Buratai quickly reformed the Nigerian and adequately prepared them through special trainings for the arduous national assignment.  Sooner than later, the Nigerian Army was as fit as a fiddle to chivalrously face terrorists in the warfront.
In a fresh and renewed confrontation with Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast battlefields by last quarter of 2015, the Nigerian troops led by Gen. Buratai rapidly began to demolish and consume Boko Haram insurgents.  Nigerian troops speedily gained grounds against terrorists through astounding military exploits.
It manifested in the sustained scampering of Boko Haram terrorists through unwinding labyrinths and bush paths in the face of the mightier Nigerian troops. The rough, unmotorable and almost inaccessible terrain of the Northeast was a natural defence bulwark for the scared and fleeing terrorists. Insurgents’ resorted to the use of motorcycles to escape the wrath of soldiers.
The astute strategist, Gen. Buratai   discovered that insurgents used motorcycles to shield themselves against a conclusive chase to their hideouts by Nigerian forces. The Army Chief therefore countered the barrier, by introducing the squad by the name, “Motorbike Battalion.” He flooded the Northeast region with troops on motorbikes and escaping insurgents were chased by troops to their remotest hideouts’ and neutralized.
It took the warmonger no time to decimate the formerly rampaging terrorists. Insurgents ostensibly became enfeebled by the strength and pressure mounted on them by Nigerian troops.
The leader of the counter-insurgency operations is an embodiment of innumerable war strategies and tactics. The nightmare of insurgents was further compounded with Gen. Buratai’s launch of the Special Strike Teams. He sometimes, joined his subordinate Commanders to train them personally. The Army Chief again unleashed the Special Strike Teams in different parts of the Northeast who were under strict orders to proactively assail insurgents.
 
 
Unrelenting, Gen. Buratai started expanding military presence in the troubled Northeast region. He established a dozen Army Battalions and Forward Bases to make it easier for troops to respond to distress calls or emergencies in a flash.
And determined to make insurgents uncomfortable and protect the most vulnerable communities, the Army boss expediently established the 8 Division, Nigerian Army at Monguno to make coordination of smaller operational units of the “Operation Lafia Dole” more convenient and effective.    
In order to frighten terrorists, Gen. Buratai personally led troops into the trenches fighting and howling out directives in the heat of battle. Gen. Buratai believed like Cory Doctorow “It’s our goddamed city! It’s our goddamed country. No terrorist can take it from us for so long as we’re free. Once we’re not free, the terrorists win! Take it back! … Take it back!”
Buratai’s   physical presence in the trenches and frontlines was a big blow on the psyche of terrorists whose plans were instantly dissolved at the frontlines during fierce battles with troops. It was a psychological wreck on insurgents and their warfare plans. But it boosted the morale of troops and all Nigerian territories seized and occupied by insurgents were reclaimed in a jiffy.      
Having decimated and weakened terrorists incredibly, Gen. Buratai further tightened the noose against insurgents. He identified the sources and routes of food, arms and ammunitions supply to terrorists and blocked it. He maintained an active vigilance on these sources. It led to hunger and starvation in terrorists’ camps. At this point, insurgents had no more strength and capacity to plot and strike Nigeria, or to raid markets and banks, where they stole cash and food items from their victims. 
Gen. Buratai applied the philosophy of   T. R Wallace, who had the conviction that “Is killing a known terrorist wrong? I ask this, did the terrorist allow any of his victims’ quarter? No, then allow him no quarter, and hoist the black flag.”

So,  the noticeable impact of the Army’s Chief’s tight-fisted measures was evident  when hunger hit wives and children of Boko Haram insurgents housed in their secret camps. The starving wives and children protested, pleading with their husbands to denounce terrorism and save them from hunger.
Thereafter, came the season of voluntary and massive surrendering of insurgents to the Nigerian Army. They massively renounced Boko Haram and were transited into “Demilitarization and De-radicalization” camp.
 The fall of Sambisa forest in 2016, was a new dawn in the counter-insurgency operations. The remnants of terrorists rather became too scared of their shadows. They took to hiding to escape the viciousness of Nigerian Army. It was day break for Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau who   had to disguise like a woman, dressed in black hijab to escape the Northeast into Cameroun.
Boko Haram top commanders and foot soldiers lived in mortal fear of the Nigerian Army. And the terrorists resorted to using charmed teenage female bombers to terrorize the people by sneaking to detonate bombs in public places. Gen. Buratai again countered this strategy by introducing the first ever Nigerian Army Female Corps. This fresh strategy terminated the reign of female suicide bombers.     
At different stages of the counter-terrorism combats, Gen Buratai assessed the character of the war, the impediments, and progression. He prepared and code-named several operations in the Northeast, charged with specific tasks. For instance, the “Operation Deep Punch” was designed to push the clearance operation into the hinterland in the region by clearing the remnants’ Boko Haram criminals.  
An Army General, Ulysses S. Grant crusaded that ; “One of my superstitions had always been when I started to go anywhere, or to do anything, not to turn back, or stop until the thing intended was accomplished.” Therefore, Gen. Buratai   ensured all of the initiated code-named military operations delivered on its targeted assignments, by posting fantastic results.   
 
And end of last year, Gen. Buratai launched the “Super Camp Strategy,” with multiple operational layers. The concept of Super Camp permitted   troops random patrols and also, bringing the war to the doorstep of the terrorists. This strategy has been the latest encumbrance of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. Many Boko Haram criminals and ISWAP terrorists have met their waterloo through its unexpected strikes of enemies of Nigeria at the warfront.  
LTC William B. Travis echoed centuries back that “I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his honour and that of his country, Victory or death!” Gen. Buratai believes and prefers to die in the trenches, if he cannot finally smother the fire of terrorism in his fatherland.
 And true to his verifiably courageous spirit, a few days back, Gen. Buratai deployed his leadership arsenals to the warfront and berthed in Ngamdu, in Kalga LGA of Borno to again fight criminals alongside troops.  He vowed not to return to Abuja until Boko Haram criminals are flushed out of Nigeria.
We He bellowed while addressing troops at the community, “We must go all out to stop and eliminate these criminals. We must do it now. There is no better time than now! In this our honourable mission and endeavour, there is no room for the chicken-hearted… From now on it is forward ever; backward never.”
Celebrated British novelist, George Orwell has posited that “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” Therefore, Gen. Buratai is a leader and soldier who is leading from the frontline’s night and day for Nigerians to sleep in peace.  He has toed the footsteps of the rare breeds of Army Generals the world over, who   leads their troops from the battlefields.
For Gen. Buratai, the zeal to win the war on terror is unwavering; the determination is evergreen and his courage is undaunting. Gen. Buratai has engraved his name on the sands of time as Africa’s most priced and prodigious soldier on counter- terrorism.

Ochimana is a civil rights activist and wrote from Yola.