Jonathan Orders Total War Against Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the armed forces to launch a full-scale military operation against Boko Haram and other violent organisations to put an end to their impunity in the country. “I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability by waging a total war against terrorism,” he said in his nationwide Democracy Day broadcast in Abuja on Thursday. It was not immediately known what such an offensive could entail given that the North-East where most of the activities of terrorists take place has been under emergency rule and a full-scale military operation for a year now. But a top Defence Headquarters official told The PUNCH shortly after the broadcast that the Special Forces and other security operatives involved in the prosecution of the anti-terrorism campaign would have a near unlimited space to operate. The phrase “total war”, however, was used by Chad’s President Idriss Deby following a meeting of Nigeria’s neighbours in Paris in mid-May, in which they sought a common strategy to fight the militants. “I assure you … that these thugs will be driven away. It will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal,” Jonathan said. The President explained that the full-scale operation against the terrorists had become imperative because they had unleashed war on Nigeria. But he still did not rule out “dialogue, reconciliation” with the insurgents if they renounced terrorism and embraced peace. Jonathan said that Nigeria’s unity, stability and the protection of lives and property were non-negotiable. He restated the determination of his administration to protect the nation’s democracy, national unity and political stability. The President said the activities of terror groups in the country had caused debilitating pains and horror for the nation particularly the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno, on April 14.