Retired Army General, Gen. Ishola has expressed deep frustration over the unending insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, lamenting that the situation seems to confirm former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s prediction that the conflict could last indefinitely.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television from 2:15, Gen. Ishola said it was worrisome that after more than a decade of military operations, billions of naira in defense spending, and countless promises of victory, Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to wreak havoc in Borno and neighboring states.
“Fifteen years, maybe we are going along with what General Buratai has predicted, that the insurgency will go along forever,” Ishola said, emphasizing the need for a fresh approach to counterinsurgency.
The retired General noted that while the military has recorded tactical victories, the lack of long-term strategy and poor coordination among security agencies have allowed insurgents to regroup repeatedly. He described the situation as a “cycle of attacks and counterattacks” that has drained national resources and cost thousands of lives.
Gen. Ishola also pointed out that the prolonged conflict has devastated local economies, displaced millions of people, and crippled educational and health institutions in the region. He urged the federal government to combine military efforts with socio-economic reforms, deradicalization programs, and community-based peacebuilding initiatives.
“The problem is no longer just military; it’s social, economic, and ideological,” he said. “Unless we tackle the roots of this crisis, we may indeed be fighting this battle forever.” View, More,
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