Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has said the December deadline given the military to end the Boko Haram insurgency by President Muhammadu Buhari, is unrealistic.
Buhari gave the military December deadline to flush out the insurgents, but even as the Nigerian troops are making tremendous gains in the battle against the militants, casualties from their attacks are increasing by the day.
Although the military through its leadership has said it would achieve the target, Gowon, himself a retired general, said that while the armed forces will do its best to meet the December deadline, it is difficult for anybody to say confidently when the military operation will end.
Gowon, who spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during avisit to Governor David Umahi on to advocats measures against malaria and four other neglected tropical diseases, expressed absolute confidence in the military ability to defeat the insurgents.
He said, “I can tell you this, nobody can really talk about when any particular operation is going to end. And as a (former) Commander-in- chief, I know this.
“Yes, you can say you target a particular time, but it may finish before that time or it may go slightly beyond. To end it, that is the most important thing.
“I assure you that I have absolute confidence in our military that they are going to really deal with the situation as they are doing at the moment.”
He expressed worry that the insurgents are now using underage and innocent children as suicide bombers.
“May the spirits of these poor little children who are being brainwashed to carry out such heinous crimes rest in peace,” he added.
Gowon, who hailed the success recorded by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the fight against Boko Haram, noted that President Buhari’s administration has been working hard to wipe out the sect since assuming office in May 29
