An NGO, the National Prayer Movement, says military option alone cannot solve the Boko Haram insurgency because of the methods adopted by the terrorists in waging war against the country.
The General Secretary of the NGO, Gbenga Olakunle, said in a statement in Abuja that the Federal Government must adopt other methods in tackling the insurgency.
Olakunle, who said combined methods were needed in tackling the insurgency, called for consultation among leaders in the North to find a lasting solution to the insurgency.
He said: “A situation where the government has not been able to properly check the proliferation and circulation of small firearms and ammunitions in the hands of unauthorised persons will make it difficult for military option to work in isolation of other options.
“The government needs to know the remote and immediate causes of the insurgency that has lasted for six years and has reportedly claimed about 15,000 lives.
“The Buhari administration should not be satisfied with just cutting the leaves and branches of the evil tree that is producing bitter fruits of sorrow leading to wanton destruction of lives and property in the North East in particular.
“Rather, the Federal Government should get to the root of the evil tree and uproot it completely.”
Olakunle noted that some insincere and selfish politicians were partly responsible for the unending insurgency, which he said had displaced many people from their villages and homes.
Olakunle said the terrorists in the last one week had killed about 180 innocent Nigerians, wondering why the sect could not respect the Ramadan period and declare a ceasefire.
He said: “We therefore make bold to say violence is not part of our national lifestyle and it should not be.
“We should reject violent culture in all its ramifications no matter how coloured or sugar-coated it may be presented to us under the guise of religious extremism/fundamentalism.
“We should reject it for the sake of our peaceful co-existence in this nation and national development.”
Olakunle called on Nigerians, especially elites in the North, to rally round President Muhammadu Buhari to end the insurgency.
NAN.