Be mindful of Australian’s talks with B’Haram, FG warned Snr. Reporter, Lagos A securityexpert, Max Gbanite, has asked the Federal Government to be mindful of the assistance by Stephen Davis, the Australian negotiating with the Boko Haram insurgents on behalf of the Nigerian government on the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. Davis had recently fingered some notable Nigerians, including former Governor of Borno State, Ahmodu Sherriff, and a former Chief of Army Staff, retired General Azubuike Ihejirika, as top sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. While stressing the need for the Federal Government to be mindful of the assistance that the Australian claimed he was providing, Gbanite noted that Davis is a consultant to the National Centre Intelligence and Security, a group which, he said, predicted the break up of Nigeria in 2015. According to him, “Davis claimed to be very important in the negotiation of the Niger Delta militancy. That is yet to be proven but whatever his intendments, it does not augur well for the nation. He has put in a bill of almost $15 million. “He was not contacted by the government to negotiate on its behalf and could just be doing his best to ensure that the prediction comes true,” Gbanite said. While reacting to the recent declaration of Gwoza town an Islamic caliphate by the Boko Haram sect, the security expert insisted that the Nigerian government must adequately fund the military to empower them in the counter-terrorism operations in the North East region. He also cautioned that the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Nigeria could become a weapon in the hands of the terrorist group if an urgent action was not taken in equipping the military. “Imagine Boko Haram getting their hands on any diabolical material that can be containerised and exposed to the atmosphere, we are finished. Identifying the source of funding is as important as identifying their spiritualist, motivator, Imam, chief trainer and suppliers of arms. “The sect is beginning to change its tactics, moving from asymmetrical war to that of convention by believing or having the impetus to occupy a particular area, capture a particular area, hoist a flag and get repelled. “They are looking at convention and this is what the military is looking for to make it easier for them to battle. But I hope the Finance Minister will be as optimistic as I am by releasing security budget timely enough so that they can go about and do their businesses. Security is a very expensive thing and you cannot play with it. You do not go to battle holding your private part but holding a weapon,” Gbanite said.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:12:40 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015