The fight against insurgency is not over, despite terrorists’ decimation by military – Zulum
By Tada Juthan, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has said that the fight against insurgency is yet to be over, despite the killings of many terrorists by the military in the Northeast.
According to him, the state government’s support of the military led to the decimation of hundreds of terrorists in the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region.
Zulum, represented by the Head of Service (HoS), Mallam Fannami, raised the alarm on Saturday at the 2024 combined West African Social Activities (WASA) at the Maimalari Cantoment, Maiduguri.
He noted that the fight against insurgency was far from over, stating that “progress has been made in the Northeast theatres of war, particularly in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
He reiterated the hope that in no time the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents will be eliminated to restore peace in Borno and the Northeast in general.
Fannami continued: “The commitment of our troops has led to the decimation of hundreds of insurgents. “While a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic measures has led to the massive surrender of repentant Boko Haram terrorists and their families. “It has not been rosy, as some of the troops have paid the supreme price for discharging their duties.
The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Northeast Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, emphasised the importance of WASA as an opportunity to reconnect with their various cultures and traditions.
He said that the tradition of cultural connections and heritage is celebrated at the end of each.”This is regardless of soldiers’ place of deployment in the country,” he noted.
The traditional rituals at WASA included burning of incense, dancing and exposure of masquerades, and other social activities held at the Maimalari parade ground.
He added that the social activities are synonymous with the culture and traditions of soldiers across the country.
The event, which traces the origins, during the African Frontier Forces of WW II, is a time-honoured tradition that celebrates cultural heritage by providing an opportunity for soldiers to reconnect with their roots.
According to Shaibu, WASA has evolved over the years to become an integral part of the Nigerian Army social calendar. He, therefore, expressed gratitude for the success of the army in fighting insurgency and other terrorists’ activities in the region.
He noted that the annual social activities will enable the soldiers to reflect on each year’s achievements and challenges in various theatres of war. Besides its cultural importance, Shaibu stated, “WASA will continue to foster unity along with the raising of troops’ morale and their families.” Highlights of the annual event included the display of traditional dances by the Zage cultural troupe, masquerades, cultural rituals, a showcase of the rich ethnic diversity of ethnic groups, and other cultural displays from various parts of the country.
The dignitaries and participants were also entertained with a variety of performances and displays, including the lighting of the bonfire, tug-of-war, and the beating of the retreat, which are integrated into the cultural practices of the Nigerian Army.
