Boko Haram Members Now Bandits Says Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s President has on Tuesday, said that the remnants of Boko Haram in the North-east region of the country are bandits, “and we will continue to treat them as such.”

Naija News learned that the President made this known while speaking on Tuesday, September 10 at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, when he received Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

According to President Buhari, “Boko Haram has been degraded, but its members are still a nuisance around Lake Chad and surrounding islands.

“That is why we are cooperating with Chad, Cameroon, Niger Republic, and other countries. We are also using the Air Force quite effectively. They are bandits, and we will continue to treat them as such.”

He applauded the support of the ICRC and other humanitarian organizations, noting: “The situation of the displaced persons is very pathetic. Some children don’t know where their parents are, neither do they know where they come from.

“We are focusing on education and healthcare, along with rebuilding of infrastructure. The agency formerly under the leadership of Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd) and now headed by Major-General Paul Tarfa (retd) is quietly making an impression. We are dedicating lots of resources to the area.”

“How can you kill people, and say ‘God is great.’ It’s either you don’t know that God, or you don’t know what you are talking about. God is God of justice. And the people have understood the message well, so recruiting is now difficult for the insurgents,” the President said.

Mr. Maurer on his part said Nigeria was the 5th largest operation of ICRC worldwide, adding that the organization would not hesitate to render humanitarian action to people affected by violence.

While speaking on the recent killing of two officials in the North-east, he said: “We are shaken by the killing of our staff, but not discouraged. Humanitarian assistance should continue, and we applaud the hospitality of Nigeria.”

The ICRC President said relationship will be further strengthened with Nigeria, submitting that “the more we see activity from Nigerian authorities, the easier it is for us to add here and there.”