It is hoped that the new leadership in Nigeria will take better anti-insurgency measures
ISLAMABAD: Boko Haram is a terrorist group based in northeast Nigeria and operates in areas like Chad, Cameroon and Niger. As the brutal attacks by Boko Haram constitute serious threats to international peace and human security, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to adopt a joint strategy and comprehensive approach to combat Boko Haram. Recently, General Muhammadu Buhari has won Nigeria’s general elections against President Goodluck Jonathan by 2.5 million votes. In 2013, Boko Haram named Buhari as a preferred negotiator but he rejected the offer. Later, because of his fierce criticism of the terror outfit, he was targeted in an assassination attempt. Now after winning the presidential elections, Buhari has announced that Boko Haram will soon know the strength of collective will and his administration will spare no effort to tackle the insurgency.
The prevailing challenges for the Nigerian government are poverty, corruption, low socioeconomic development and the militant insurgency. The public expects Buhari to be more pragmatic and not rely solely on a military solution to deal with Boko Haram. It is hoped that the new leadership in Nigeria will take better anti-insurgency measures and adopt a rational strategy towards Boko Haram to restore peace and stability in the country.
Aymen Ijaz
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2015.
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