Buhari: Armed Forces will Annihilate Boko Haram by December

Despite the recent bomb blasts in Abuja and some
states in the North-east, President Muhammadu
Buhari has said he remained fully confident that by
the end of this year, Boko Haram’s ability to attack,
seize, ravage and hold any Nigerian territory will
have been completely obliterated.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president
spoke when he met with the Commander of United
States Africa Command, Gen David Rodriguez.

Buhari said with greater support from his
administration in terms of improved training,
equipment, logistics and welfare, the Nigerian
Armed Forces were well positioned to meet the
December deadline which he gave to them to end
the Boko Haram insurgency.

The president seized the opportunity of Rodriquez’s
visit to restate his appreciation of the US support
for Nigeria’s efforts to overcome terrorism and

insurgency.
Buhari said: “We must thank the United States of
America for sending training teams and equipment
to us. The positive results of our collaboration are
evident.
“Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced
and by the end of the year, we should see the final
routing of Boko Haram as an organised fighting
force.”

Buhari however, appealed for greater cooperation
from the US in securing the Gulf of Guinea through
which stolen Nigerian crude oil was shipped abroad.
The president said Nigeria had suffered severe
revenue losses from crude oil theft and reinstated
his administration’s determination to end the
criminal practice.

However, the president said Nigeria would welcome
more support from the international community in
this regard.
Rodriguez said he was in the country to strengthen
Nigeria/United States military relations, and also
explore further options for assisting the
Multinational Joint Task Force established by
Nigeria and her neighbours, to fight Boko Haram.