TheCable

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, says Nigeria may still be grappling with terrorism in the next two decades. 

Buratai stated this in a post on his verified Facebook page.

His remarks come amid renewed calls for the sack of the service chiefs, following the killing of over 40 rice farmers in Borno state by Boko Haram.

The killing of the farmers has generated widespread criticism within and outside Nigeria, with the United Nations describing it as the “most violent attack” targeted at civilians in 2020.

Buratai argued that people generally misunderstand insurgency and terrorism.

According to him, whether or not terrorism will persist depends on the response of stakeholders, including citizens.

He noted that there is need for “collective action” to put an end to insecurity.

“There is general misunderstanding of what insurgency and terrorism entail. There is likelihood of terrorism persisting in Nigeria for another 20 years. It only depends on the level of escalation and the appropriate responses by all stakeholders, both civil and military authorities. Also by both local in international actors,” Buratai wrote.

“Citizens responsibility is equally important and imperative. All must cooperate to contain the lingering insecurity. Let there be collective action and responsibility.”