A former Director in the Department of State Services DSS, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, has described as senseless and bizarre, the call by an Islamic Cleric, Abubakar Gumi that the federal government grants amnesty to armed Fulani herdsmen who have taken to terrorism in some parts of the country.
This was as a former Political Adviser to the president and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak has hailed the order by President Muhammadu Buhari to security agencies to shoot at sight, anyone saw wielding AK-47 rifles in the bushes or forests.
Also, the Convener, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, noted that what is more crucial is to identify those who carry such weapons and to what end.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Ejiofor slammed the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai for telling Nigerians that it will take the country 20 years to stamp out the insurgency.
He said with the right approach by the Federal Government, Nigeria should not spend the next 20 years having to contend with insurgents.
Ejiofor said; “The issue is that people in government, especially politicians do not believe in telling the truth. Now that the man is out of office, he is seeing the realities on the ground. Does it mean he did not see this when they were telling us that the insurgents have been decimated and degraded? So, that is double talk as far as I am concerned. It is pure deceit.
“I do not believe that the fight will last for the next 20 years but as long as we do not adopt the right approach in battling the crisis, so long the crisis will remain with us. So, I do not agree that it will last for 20 years, but when we adopt the right approach, I think we shall overcome and win the ar against insurgency and this multifarious security challenges we are facing.
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Way forward
“What government needs to do is to change approach and tactics in the fight against insurgency. The government has taken the step of rejigging the security architecture by changing the Service Chiefs and we strongly believe that these new ones will come up with fresh ideas.
“But what is more worrisome now is that following the change, we have been having a series of kidnapping of school children. So, they should all go back to the drawing board, work out plans, synergize and see how this menace will be tackled.
