Despite his disavowal, however, Buratai’s past public remarks, a memo and the insurgents’ resurgence raise troubling signals that demand urgent action. It was the more controversial as Boko Haram and splinters like the Islamic State West African Province, pledging allegiance to global terrorist groups, had been successfully sacking military outposts, ambushing military convoys, killing officers and troops and commandeering equipment. A report last year cited a memo Buratai sent to all formations in which he warned commanders against abandoning their positions. Boko Haram had similarly attacked the task force battalion last November in Metele, killing a commander. Buhari and Buratai should stop living in denial; their repeated claims of having defeated Boko Haram is false as terrorists are adaptable.

Source: Punch June 29, 2019 23:14 UTC