EXCLUSIVE: Popular Security Expert Commends Northern Leaders for Support

 President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) Dr. Ona Ekhomu, yesterday commended northern political leaders for finally supporting the war against Boko Haram terrorists.

Ekhomu who was reacting to the recent deadly attacks on Izghe Community in Gwoza LGA and Kondugha town in Borno State that claimed over 200 lives, said the support of northern political elite was important to create a synergy in the successful prosecution of the war on terror.

He said the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, took the right step in calling the Federal government to ensure that all parties involved in tackling the problem would stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day.

He said the war on terror had been unduly prolonged because some political leaders did not appreciate the enormity of the security challenges facing the nation.

He said, "A grave security threat like Boko Haram was turned into political ping-pong. Even now, some political leaders had been in a state of denial on the issue of Boko Haram terrorism.

"It is however important to note that combating terrorism is not a job for the FG alone, but the joint responsibility of all tiers of government as well as political officer holders who should reduce their focus on the privilege of office and instead focus on service delivery.

" Governor Shettima’s call for proper funding of troops in the front lines is timely since proper resourcing is necessary to successfully prosecute the war on terror."

While urging for closer cooperation between the various tiers of government in the war on terror, Ekhomu said the  government must deny terrorists any opportunity to strike and destroy innocent lives.

He said, "A new security architecture must be put in place for the entire north in order to avert further terrorist attacks. Also, there should be an establishment of special military commission (tribunals) to try terror suspects and convict or exonerate them as appropriate.

"One of such strategies of terrorists is to convince the local population that the government is incapable of protecting them. Therefore, disrupting terror plots and successfully prosecuting arrested terrorists are important actions that could reassure citizens."