Insurgency: Nigeria Hails Global Endorsement of her Fight Against Terrorism

Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government of Nigeria has hailed the recent global endorsement of its fight against terrorism, as contained in the 2017 Global Terrorism Index of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

In a statement issued by Nigeria Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed delight at the report, which shows that the largest decrease in terrorism deaths globally occurred in Nigeria, where terrorism deaths attributed to Boko Haram fell by 80% in 2016.

The Minister said it was also encouraging that for the second
consecutive year, the total number of deaths is down with a 13%
Year-On-Year reduction compared to 2015, with four of the five
countries most affected by terrorism – Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria – recording 33% fewer deaths.

He said the progress that has been made by Nigeria in the fight
against terrorism, since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, was duly acknowledged by the Executive Chairman of IEP, Steve Killelea, who was quoted by the report as saying, inter alia: ”The decline of Boko Haram in Nigeria is having a positive ripple effect, with Cameroon, Chad and Niger collectively recording 75% fewer deaths.”

Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria’s success in the fight against terrorism is a direct result of the leadership provided by President Buhari, who did not just provide the enabling environment for the Nigerian military to regain its lost glory in the fight against terrorism, but also rallied Nigeria’s neighbours to forge a wide, sub-regional front against Boko Haram.

”It is fitting, therefore, that the 2017 Global Terrorism Index
acknowledges the success recorded by the Multinational Joint Task Force that has been exerting pressure on Boko Haram,” he said.

The Minister recalled that President Buhari, in his inaugural speech on the 29th of May 2015, directed the relocation of the command centre of the fight against Boko Haram to Maiduguri, and then followed up with a shuttle diplomacy that took him to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and resulted in the rejuvenation of the Multinational Joint Task Force.

He further congratulated the Nigerian military for its patriotism and
sacrifice that have made the country a proud member of the comity of nations.