NSA Says 'Nobody Knows Those Behind Boko Haram'

DASUKI SAYS THE ARE FACELESS?


Moves To Coopt State Governors In The War Against Terrorism

 – Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) Wednesday in Jos, Plateau State reiterated the facelessness of the radical Islamic group terrorizing cities in northern Nigeria.

The new NSA, a northerner from Sokoto State, had before his visit to Jos toured the troubled states of Borno and Yobe, where the Boko Haram has launched series of attacks.

“Nobody knows those behind the attacks. Nobody has ever come out to say I am Boko Haram. It is good you dialogue but whom are you going to dialogue with? Who is Boko Haram? Unlike the militia in the South–South who came out for identification and stated their grievances, Boko Haram has never come out to say he is Boko Haram,” Dasuki stated during a meeting with stakeholders at the Rayfield Government House, Jos.

The NSA however unfolded a new counter-insurgency strategy that would include coopting serving state governors in combating the Boko Haram menace saying, that governors are better placed to address the problem in their various states.

“My intention is to work with state governors towards addressing all these problems because they are the Chief Security Officers of their respective states. Our job is to compliment their efforts because when there is peace, the burden will be less for us in Abuja.”

Dasuki ruled out working with individuals saying, “We will not work with individuals but the governors.”

In his contribution, Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang expressed frustrations with the state of emergency declared in four local government areas of the state saying, it has not solved the security problem in the area. The governor further stated that residents of the state are peace loving blaming the violence on external elements. 

Jang however disagreed with government’s plan to dialogue with a faceless group saying those behind the terrorist group ought to be unmasked first before any talks.

The NSA agreed with Jang that declaring a state of emergency was the wrong approach to the problem and promised to look into his complaint. He however appealed to the group to consider government’s offer to dialogue.