Amosu: Military Has Substantially Depleted Boko Haram

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd.)

• Appeals for NATO-like advanced surveillance equipment from US

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja


The immediate past Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), has assured members of the public that the Nigerian military has substantially depleted and downgraded the capacity of the Boko Haram terrorists to mount any organised acts of terror in the North-east.

Amosu gave this assurance on Thursday at the fly-out parade, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Abuja that formally marked the end of his military career.
He said the fight against terrorism has been boosted, adding that the Nigerian military and NAF in particular is in a better shape to finish the ongoing operation to against the terrorists.

The former air force chief however warned against complacency, saying that terrorism is real and must be dealt with utmost ruthlessness.
He clarified on the December 2015 deadline given by President Muhammadu Buhari for ending of Boko Haram threat as more on the military operations.
“Don’t forget there are two aspects of fighting terrorism; one aspect is the counter, he is saying the counter aspect of it, which is being lead by the military must conclude by December. The other aspect the anti-, which is a continuous process with customs and other paramilitary agencies involved and police is suppose to led in this.

“So that aspect is still there, buy that of to counter is an agenda that can be met.  The President has taken the proper decision, which is welcomed here in the air force and. the military in general,” he explained.

He continued: “The fight against terrorism is going to receive higher boost, I want to assure you that the people we have left behind are part of the team, and of course we know that the freedom of movement and action of the Boko Haram terrorists has been substantially depleted what is left now is mop up exercise and to make sure some of our borders are completely closed and secured.

“The threat of terrorism is very real, and should the terrorist succeed no part of the nation will be spared, hence, it is absolutely critical that we match the determination of terrorist with an even more ruthless determination of our own to overcome the threats of terrorism.”

According to Amosu, Nigeria needs its gallant arm forces to rise to the challenge of defending the country against the scourge of terrorism and restoring the peace and security necessary for sustained development.

“I charge you all to continue to serve with courage. Security and peace will return and then the atmosphere for prosperity will take effect and we are very sure and confident that we are leaving the services in capable hands,” he insisted.

Speaking on the capacity of NAF in the ongoing counter-terrorism and Counter-Insurgency operations in some parts of the North-east, the former CAS said there are three issues: “one of them is the mission responsiveness, another one is the flexibility and capability, and when it comes to capability, whatever we can get from any nation is welcome.”

He noted that such assistance  “will come with training, it will come with platform particularly for surveillance, because this kind of enemies we are dealing with, I will like to call them evasive enemies, so we need a lot of surveillance capability.”

Amosu noted: “Unfortunately, we in the third world nations, there are some kind of surveillance equipment that is only restricted to NATO nations for acquisition.

“I am hoping that they would accommodate African countries so that some of those capabilities we can have. Particularly when it comes to force protection, you can actually do most of this surveillance from the air and you will be able to detect if you have IEDs around locations with ease. But right now we are not enjoying that so we are hoping that the US will lift that area, let us be able to have the capability that they extend to NATO nations I think we will be fine,” he appealed.