Boko Haram Now Confined To Fringes of North-East Nigeria - Pres. Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan says his government has reduced the Boko Haram insurgency in the country to the Northeast alone, down from about 12 States.

President Jonathan said this on Thursday in remarks made by a special adviser, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

Okupe was reacting to the comments made by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who had criticized the government during a lecture marking the 50th birthday of former Governor Timpriye Sylva.

Okupe said Mr. Jonathan did not lie to Nigerians concerning the insurgency, stressing that terrorism is a global phenomenon which has only recently plagued the country.

"At its peak, it ravaged some 12 States in the North including Abuja. Today, because of the courage, resilience and capability of our armed forces and security agencies, we have pushed them to the fringes of the North Eastern parts of the country.”

He admitted that there are still obvious challenges but that the government is giving them the best attention and considerations possible.

"Recently, Foreign Allies including Britain, USA, France, Israel, China and Australia have arrived Nigeria soil and are co-operating with our military to resolve especially the issue of the kidnap of the Chibok girls,” Okupe said.

"These are the best global players and they have been with us for about six weeks. If the releasing of the girls was a tea-party, definitely, it should have been over by now. We have said it before and we will say it again, “yes, we know where the girls are but our approach at releasing them must be carefully weighed against their overall safety.

"It is a matter of national disgrace and shame that highly placed, and highly net worth individuals in the country will continue to politicise the nation’s misfortunes and challenges not minding the deleterious and untoward demoralising effects this attitude have on our military especially, the widows and innocent children of our military heroes who die daily on the fields, defending their country”.

SR