Members of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, have said the current strategies against the Boko Haram insurgent is not working and subsequently asked the Federal Government and the security agencies to review their tactics in order to make it achieve maximum result.
The governors who condemned the spate of killings in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, said they were alarmed at the killing of students in Yobe and what they described as unproved attack on the civilians by the attackers.
A statement by the Chairman of the NGF, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi in Abuja on Friday, also commiserated with the families of the students.
However, he said that time has come for the Federal Government to comprehensively review the strategies with which it is fighting this insurgency.
“The current approach is definitely not working and it is important that all of us are humble and sincere enough to accept this reality and then work out a stronger and more workable strategy.
“Of course the Federal and state governments should not be left alone to fight the terrorists. Citizens need to help our security agencies with accurate and timely information. But government itself needs to engage new allies wherever they may be in the world,” Amaechi said.
He urged the Federal Government to continue to support affected states in the bid to check violence and that the Federal Government should remain focused and continue to provide leadership until every part of Nigeria is rid of violence and insurgency.
Amaechi added that the governors were alarmed with the killings of students and others during the attacks. “We in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum hereby condemn the recent spate of killings in some parts of our country – Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states – by the Boko Haram sect.
“We are alarmed by the slaughter of 29 pupils at the Federal Government College in Yobe and the unprovoked attacks against defenceless people in those states.
“We commiserate with the people and government of those states, the families of the victims, and pray God to give them and indeed every Nigerian the fortitude to bear the loss.
“This is a very difficult period for our country and its people and we must collectively pray and rally round families, friends and fellow citizens affected by these tragedies. We must provide whatever support and save the lives of those still alive.”
Amaechi said that while security agencies should continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible, he appealed to all aggrieved individuals and groups in Nigeria to appreciate the fact that violence can never be a solution to any problem.
He said Nigerians should know that they have no other country to call home and that it was important that “we understand the danger and futility of destroying our land in the pursuit of a selfish agenda.”
He added that it was gratifying that government – Federal and State – were working hard to get to the root of the killings and nip these orgy of violence in the bud.
He also commended the security agencies for the selfless sacrifice he said they were making in the interest of all Nigerians to restore calm to all parts of our country.