Global war against Boko Haram’ll end terrorism in africa, Nigeria–Omeri

The Director, National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, in this interview withADELANI ADEPEGBAandEVEREST AMAEFULEin Abuja, speaks on the ongoing security operations to rescue the abducted Chibok girls It appears the Federal Government established this National Information Centre to hide information… No no no, if you notice, we have been giving out information and are receptive to questions from journalists. What we are doing is to ensure that we give authentic information to citizens so that we don’t go on wild goose chase, we don’t hide information unnecessarily. We want to ensure that whatever we give, in words, in video, in photographs, scene photographs, are authentic from authentic sources. We want to maintain the credibility of the centre, we want to maintain and respect the credibility of the newspapers and the media as well as of the government and it can be achieved. In this case, I can see the media working in partnership with the government of Nigeria, the people of Nigeria and the centre to achieve two goals-the rescue of the girls and the peace and stability of our country. Has it been ascertained that the abducted girls are still in the country, from the information available to you? Well, the searches are still going on, efforts are being made within the operational area in question and believe me, we don’t want to disclose any information, whether they are there or not because it can arm the enemy. Does the inability of the Nigerian Army to locate the girls not confirm the widely held view that the military is ill-equipped? No, no, no, I don’t believe so because if you notice, we showed the slide and video here of the aerial surveillance being conducted by the military. They are scanning the area, they are at different spots and they are following leads. So, to say that Nigeria does not have the capacity is to underrate the achievements of the Nigerian Army over the years and even in relation to this expedition. Weeks after the arrival of the foreign security team, we heard that some things were still being sorted out according to your briefing. What are those things? You know they are coming to assist with the military expedition, but they would not just come and enter the field because they have experience, they need to get briefing from those who have been operating in the area and that’s what took place within the period under review and the essence is to exchange ideas, reinforce what is being done correctly and take steps to remedy what right may not have been done 100 per cent as it should be because of the experience being shared. So, it is not to say that nothing is happening at all, even if it was the process of briefing and the briefings that has been going on, it is still part of the process of rescuing the girls, it’s a complete package. focus is on rescuing the girls and not to play to the gallery or to be stampeded into actions that will not lead to the eventual release of these children. It is not that the President refused to go for any other consideration than the commitment to marshaling all efforts, all energies and capacities towards the main goal of rescuing the children. The President has approved more troops for the North-East and this means the situation has gone so bad. Can you paint the scenario in the area? It is to reinforce what is going on and don’t forget that only last Saturday, there was an international summit that focused attention on this, so these are some of the fallouts of such collaborations because other people are involved. From reports, it is apparent that the Federal Government and Borno State government are not working in synergy; so how can they succeed against the insurgents if they are not working together? I am not sure about that, the Federal Government has a responsibility to Borno State and the people of Borno State. It has the Army, it has the full complement of the elements required in the prosecution of this expedition, and it has deployed it. If they are not in good terms, and how can a father and a son not be in good terms to an extent that it would allow a situation of this magnitude to degenerate? In other climes, the President may not even order the deployment of troops there, maybe, but in this instance, I cannot see that, I have not seen it, I cannot see it and I am not sure that what you are saying is a true reflection of what is on the ground. I know that the President of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the situation on the ground and is working with whoever is and whatever agency and institution that is in Borno State. The government had taken the step to coordinate information management by setting up this centre, but we don’t know if it has taken the same step to coordinate the operations of the security agencies? Readmore