We’ve flushed out terrorists, says Jonathan

[Mirror]

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his administration has recorded tremendous success in the fight against terrorism in the country since the declaration of a state of emergence in three states of the north.

Speaking as a guest on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said before the declaration of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, the Boko Haram insurgents had carved out a part of Nigeria and created an enclave where they exercise authority, stressing that the insurgents have since been flushed out by security agencies.

Abati said: "The first point to note is that before the declaration of a state of emergency, the situation in the affected states was really bad, socio-economic activities had practically seized.

There was anxiety in the communities and beyond the affected part to all parts of Nigeria. "On a regular basis, there were either cases of detonation of bombs or harassment of people. There was a state of fear, but since the declaration of a state of emergency by President Jonathan, a lot has been achieved.

"Three months down the line, when you look at the affected states, where the state of emergency was declared, the first thing you will note is that before then, the Boko Haram insurgents have carved out a part of Nigeria.

They have created an enclave where they exercise authority, but they have since been flushed out by the security agencies." According to him, socioeconomic activities have resumed in the affected states, adding that the people can now go about their normal businesses.

He noted that the level of fear before the declaration of the state of emergency was very high even in the remaining part of the country, saying that has gone down now.

He pointed out that there was also the support of the international community that the administration has enjoyed on the basis of taking this decision, stressing that the International Criminal Court, ICC, prosecutor has also declared that the Nigerian government has done very well in containing terrorist activities and also that it was not true that the Federal Government and the security agencies have been targeting civilians.

"They made it clear that in their investigation between 2010 and 2012, that there is no evidence that the security operatives were targeting civilians. He went further to accuse Boko Haram of crime against humanity.

"All these are proofs that the Jonathan administration's approach to tackling this issue has the support of critical stakeholders, not just in Nigeria but also in other parts of the world," he said.

Abati also noted that one of the major fall outs of the operation in the last three months has been the special focus of government on border patrol to secure the borders.

"The Nigerian government is doing this in collaboration with the neighbouring countries. So there is greater collaboration at the security level between Nigeria and all neighbouring countries and in fact in the speech by the President declaring the state of emergency, you will remember that he promised Nigerians that he will take further steps to link up with other neighbouring countries and a lot has been done in that regard," he said.

National Mirror

[Folami David]

I don't think so Mr President cos we still see some of the damages they're causing.
Don't be so sure sir.