End of suicide bombings is near, says DHQ

The Nigerian defence headquarters has assured Nigerians that suicide bombings, in which at least 600 people have been killed since advent of the Buhari government, will soon be sorry tales of the past.

Rabe Abubakar, defence spokesman, gave the assurance while speaking with Mike Omeri, director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Paul Odenyi, spokesman of the agency, Abayomi Olonishakin, chief of defence staff, also commended the NOA for its sensitisation campaigns on counter insurgency.

Abubakar, who conveyed the message of the defence chief, said more sensitisation programme would be required to completely wipe out insurgency in the country.

The defence spokesman identified radicalisation of young people in some parts of the country, and parts of the West African sub region as the main cause of the insurgency.

Abubakar, while assuring citizens that Boko Haram was being defeated, said that “skirmishes‎ of suicide bombings would soon be put behind us”. He added that the act of suicide bombing was a sign of weakness on the part of the insurgents.

“We find a worthy partner in NOA. ‎The agency is important to our national integration and information dissemination. As a dependable civilian component, the NOA should be mobilized for common objective to end insurgency,” he said.

Responding, Omeri said improved collaboration between the NOA and the military was very critical to the counter insurgency plan and also in improving security consciousness among the citizens of the country.

He saluted “gallant” servicemen for defending the nation against internal and external aggression, saying that they deserved praises for putting their lives on the line.

He urged all Nigerians to support the military to succeed in the fight against insurgency, while reiterating the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to channel all available resources at his disposal to end terrorism.

Omer also called for more synergy between the two organisations on information dissemination, counter-terrorism strategy and design of ‘targeted messages to neutralise and counter narratives’ by insurgents.

“I commend the military for their doggedness and professionalism. Our soldiers have done us proud. ‎Our military is on top of the game. Insurgents are on their back foot. We should always show love and passion to our military,” he said.