•Boko Haram successes in 2014 undermined Jonathan Presidency – Campbell
•Says 10% of Nigerians sympathetic to terrorists
Rasmussen made this call on Wednesday in Abuja during the Nigeria Summit on National Security Summit with the theme: “Confronting and Containing Threats from Terrorism and Sectarian Insurgency”. It wasorganised by the Council on African Security and Development (CASADE) and Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).
He noted that terrorists were becoming highly inter-connected, citing the recent alliance of the Boko Haram sect and the Islamic State (IS), which he noted, seeks to displace the values of democratic nations.
The former Prime Minister of Denmark in his keynote address, stressed that a winnable formula and sustainable solution has not been developed to counter extremists and global terror.
He said: “Terrorism targets our values; to replace democracy with tyranny, rule of law with Sharia, and minority rights with oppression.
“We therefore need to create a forum where world democracies will meet to discuss how to strengthen the rule of law, good governance, combat insecurity, terrorism and check their financing. We need a worldwide pact based on freedom and security.
“We still have not developed an effective formula to fight terrorism.”
Speaking further, Rasmussen called for immediate end to not only Boko Haram terrorism but the insecurity ocassioned by the resurgent Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and Fulani herdesmen attacks.
He commended what he described as Nigeria’s exemplary and efficient use of the military to combat terrorism in the country.
He, however, suggested a carrot and stick approach towards dealing with the myriad of security challenges confronting the nation.
“Nigeria is an example of hard security measures necessary to tackle the bad guys. The military had improved a lot and has been successful in weakening Boko Haram even though they are yet to be completely eliminated.
“Recently, we have seen the attacks by the NDA against oil installations and as well as herdsmen attacks, which must be addressed. Its therefore, necessary to strengthen the military to tackle these terrorists and more importantly, address the root causes of these security challenges,” he suggested.
Also speaking, the former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, said that beating Boko Haram at the battle field is not enough to uproot insurgency and terrorism from Nigeria and the sub-region, stressing that until the nation tried to get to the root cause, the current gains may be short lived.
Speaking on a topic: “The Surge of Insurgency and Terrorism in Recent Times- The Economic and Social Consequences”, Campbell who describe Boko Haram as ‘Evil’, noted that the failure for the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration to effectively deal with the challenge on time undermined his leadership.
“Boko Haram successes in 2014 undermined the ability of Jonathan administration to ensure the security of the Nigerian people, which is a fundamental responsibility of any President,” he said.
Campbell cited Pew’s Research that indicated that about 10 per cent of Nigerian population were either supportive or sympathetic to Boko Haram, and stressed the need for an understanding of the factors that are responsible for the growth and strength of terrorism in the country.
The former Ambassado however commended President Buhari in his crusade against corruption in the country, saying that it is crucial in addressing the state of insecurity.
“The Buhari administration has diminished Boko Haram but has not defeated and winning the military battles against the terrorists is just the beginning of addressing the problems.
“It means that President Buhari fight against corruption is a fight against insecurity of the first order,” he noted.
Giving a brief history of Boko Haram which he claimed was over looked by the US when it started in 2004, due to its non-violent posture then, the former ambassador disclosed that the economic damage of insurgency and terrorism particularly in the North East (NE) of the country is about $9billion.
According to him, “available records show that there are over two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the NE, with over three million faced with the threat of food security, and millions of children in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe faced with acute malnutrition.
While disclosing further that the group which original claimed to be opposed to western civilisation, today is responsible for the destruction of about 910 schools, as well as the closure of over a thousand in the NE and use of over 44 children for suicide bombings in 2015 alone.
He blamed factors such as poverty, lack of education, marginalisation, human rights violation particularly by security operatives for the spread of insurgency, adding that the high level of corruption both in the police and military, which according to him, greatly undermined their resolve at the battle field.
Other factors the ambassador adduced to be responsible for the phenomenal growth of insurgence in the country are religious and ethnic allegiance, political agenda of some groups, deep level of distrust between government and the governed as well as the state of hopelessness of most Nigerians.
While stating that one out of five Nigerians is inclined to support the establishment of an Islamic state and one out of every ten is favourably disposed to Boko Haram, Campbell argued that those who are deeply frustrated, feels alienated, and have trouble finding meaning to life, would easily fall for the offers of Boko Haram.
He therefore advised that the current administration improve the climate for economic development, that will also provide equal opportunity for all, adding that the fight against corruption should be extended to the area of narcotics and drug trafficking which he says has provide a support base and strong link to Boko Haram and terrorism in Libya.
He also suggested the expansion of the current de-radicalization program as well as rebuilding education in the area.
Campbell also noted that in order to deal with the issue of distrust between government and the governed, the administration should endeavor to be transparent and uphold the rule of law, adding that there is need for security operatives to undergo various trainings that would enhance their respect for human rights when dealing with the people.
While advocating for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that would help heal wounds as well as build trust among the people particularly in the North East, the former Ambassador, stressed the need for the establishment also of the North East Development Commission, that is mandated to provide a vision of the post insurgency.
He said all this is achievable if the nation can partner with the US and other countries that have overcome similar challenges.
Earlier, the Director of CASADE, Prof. John Ifediora, warned that the global community is at risk from the likes of Boko Haram.
To curb this risk, Ifediora said that a responsible and effective set of policy measures must be deployed with proper care to protect the innocent and basic human rights.
These insurgents, in as much as their acts against humanity are despicable, have grievances that must be addressed ; and the sooner the better,” he stressed.
According to him, the Summit was designed to find means to address “their grievances, and to end all forms of terroristic acts against civilised polities through humane and expedient means.
He stated that “sometimes the use of force to subdue those bent on destabilising societies is unavoidable, but first, peacefully engage and listen”.
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