The Nigerian Army claims that Boko Haram is not a formidable force, boasting that it can defeat the insurgents in 15 minutes if they are provided the necessary logistics.
Maj. Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, who is the Theater Commander of the army’s Operation Lafiya Dole, said this when he received a delegation of the National Assembly joint committee on the army on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
Mr Adeniyi said Boko Haram is not strong, noting that the major factor that hinders the Nigerian army from defeating Boko Haram is the lack of an “army aviation”. He said:
“The only thing that needs to be given to the army now is Nigeria Army Aviation.
“There is a way you solve a problem that will change the game. The army needs combat helicopters to end the Boko Haram war. If we have it, it will not be deployed like air force assets, air force jets which are for bigger strategic goals.
“These helicopters will sleep with us in the trenches, they will be with us in the frontline. These helicopters and the rifles are dispatched together.
“I know this has been on the table for years. When this is done, Nigeria can forget about Boko Haram.
“Let me say Boko Haram is not a formidable force, Boko Haram is not strong; Boko Haram cannot sustain 15 minutes of intensive firing. I personally exchange with Boko Haram in Marte, in Delta, in Gubio as deputy theatre commander and as theatre commander.
“Please go and tell Abuja that Boko Haram is not a formidable force that the military cannot defeat.”
This is coming a few days after the Army Boss confessed that the Nigerian Army needs spiritual effort in order to defeat Boko Haram.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai urged Islamic and Christian clerics across the Army formations to join hands in eradicating the ideologies fueling insurgency in the country, noting that the scourge cannot be eliminated alone by the military.
