Yemisi Izuora
The Federal Government has appreciated the recent global endorsement of its fight against terrorism, as contained in the 2017 Global Terrorism
Index of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Minister of Information
and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed delight at the report,
which shows that the largest decrease in terrorism deaths globally
occurred in Nigeria, where terrorism deaths attributed to Boko Haram
fell by 80 per cent in 2016.
The Minister said it was also encouraging that for the second
consecutive year, the total number of deaths is down with a 13%
Year-On-Year reduction compared to 2015, with four of the five
countries most affected by terrorism – Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Nigeria – recording 33% fewer deaths.
He said the progress that has been made by Nigeria in the fight
against terrorism, since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in
2015, was duly acknowledged by the Executive Chairman of IEP, Steve
Killelea, who was quoted by the report as saying, inter alia: ”The
decline of Boko Haram in Nigeria is having a positive ripple effect,
with Cameroon, Chad and Niger collectively recording 75% fewer
deaths.”
Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria’s success in the fight against terrorism
is a direct result of the leadership provided by President Buhari, who
did not just provide the enabling environment for the Nigerian
military to regain its lost glory in the fight against terrorism, but
also rallied Nigeria’s neighbours to forge a wide, sub-regional front
against Boko Haram.
”It is fitting, therefore, that the 2017 Global Terrorism Index
acknowledges the success recorded by the Multinational Joint Task
Force that has been exerting pressure on Boko Haram,” he said.
The Minister recalled that President Buhari, in his inaugural speech
on the 29th of May 2015, directed the relocation of the command centre
of the fight against Boko Haram to Maiduguri, and then followed up
with a shuttle diplomacy that took him to Cameroon, Chad and Niger,
and resulted in the rejuvenation of the Multinational Joint Task
Force.
He congratulated the Nigerian military for its patriotism and
sacrifice that have once again made the country a proud member of the
comity of nations.
Alhaji Mohammed said the 2017 Global Terrorism Index will provide a
fresh shot in the arm for the Administration to continue its efforts
to wipe out the vestige of Boko Haram, and to tackle all other forms
of insecurity facing the nation.
