Sustaining the decimation of Haramists, by Jacob Ogunseye

Encumbrances are essential for success in any career of importance. Victory comes only after many struggles and series of defeats.
The recent victories of our military in their war against the Boko Haram elements (Haramists) in Nigeria after many struggles are welcoming. Despite the obstacles, our military declared “that most of the terrorist’s group leadership have now been decimated even the foot soldiers are abandoning their masters, burying their weapons and even seeking solace”. The military added that their interventions have been successful to the extent of cutting food supply routes, which has resulted in untold hardship that has crippled the Haramist operations to launch further deadly attacks.
The war we are fighting today as a country against terrorism is a multifaceted one. All means must be dispatched to ensure victory, these arsenals should go beyond physical weaponry. We need to engage diplomacy, finance, intelligence, law enforcement and, of course, military power to ensure a long term peace in the war ravaged region. Beside, the leadership across cadre of our system need to recognise their inclusions to sustain the tempo.
The idea that a war can be won by standing on the defensive and waiting for the enemy to attack is a dangerous fallacy, which owes its inception to the desire to evade the price of victory. The victories recorded did not come until Sambisa Forest and other hidden places were evaded.
Our military’s recorded successes so far don’t come as a surprise. In the twilight of the past administration, the military waged a fierce battle against these Haramists and recorded relative peace that enabled us to have elections in the region. As the past government lost the grip of power, the terrorists renewed their efforts. Of course, they wrecked havocs, killing people and destroying properties. The resolute stand of the incumbent to fulfil campaign promises on ending insurgency in the country has yielded results. It is clear.
No one ever said fighting the war against terrorism and defending our country would be easy. Our troops deserve our supports. Our law enforcement agency deserves the encouragement to attain our goals of keeping our nation safe for us and our children in the years to come.
It is high time we agreed that Boko Haram is a national calamity. It befriends no religion and romances no ethnic brand. It is born out of evil desire to create disharmony among Nigerians.
Though wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that bring victory. This spirit is what every one of us should imbibe to sustain the current winning formula. President Muhammadu Buhari should increase the tempo and offer more supports to our Armed Forces who go for the broke at the war front to outdo doubts that our country’s security settings cannot defeat terrorism in our land.
With experiences around the world, war against terror is a difficult one. The United States of America with the combination of their Western allies struggled in Afghanistan. The current war against the Islamic State is another example.
These scourges can be decimated and neutralised. They can be weakened to extinction. They can be destroyed to chicken in and at worst they can be persuaded to give up their arms.
In all these, the Nigerian government under the new leadership should position itself to ensure continuous peace and tranquility in all parts of the country. No portion of the country should ever be ceded to terrorists under any guise again. It is obvious, the end to these menaces is here, but sustaining the present efforts holds the key.