EDITORIAL

War against Boko Haram: Not only a military affair

The creation of a fourth military region in the Far North and Mayo Louti division of the North region is welcome relief to the inhabitants of the areas who have been living in the veil of Boko Haram perpetual insecurity. The cost of living in the areas has skyrocketed because majority of the inhabitants who toil a living on agriculture are frightened to go to their farms. There is scarcity of commodities while the prices of produce like groundnuts and onions that are grown mainly in the north have skyrocketed nation-wide. The situation is compounded by the closure of the borders with Nigeria to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus to Cameroon.

Bringing the military commands to the areas is indeed a comforting relief. The two commanders who have taken office will now intensify the “war” the commander-in-chief of the military, President Biya declared on May 7 against the Nigerian Islamic terrorists whose atrocities in the northern parts of Cameroon have been legion.

As if to say they were capable of standing up to the battle, the terrorists on July 27 swooped on Kolofata, the town where the vice prime minister in charge of relations with the assemblies, Amadou Ali hails from. With almost no challenge, they kidnapped his wife along with other victims including the sultan of Kolofata, Seiny Boukar Lamine, his wife and their five children.  Some sources say at least 14 people were murdered in that brazen assault on the town. Those adducted, like ten other Chinese before them, are still being held hostage.

An eye witness said “the ease with which the perpetrators were moving in the town, where they controlled the streets, and the precision with which they attacked the homes of the vice prime minister and the sultan reinforce the belief that some Cameroonians were in their ranks.” That may not be surprising given earlier reports in the Nigerian media that Cameroonian youths were being recruited and trained by the fundamentalists.

Just before boarding a plane on August 2 to attend the US-African leaders’ summit, President Biya who hardly gives interviews at the airport made the exception to underline his commitment to take on Boko Haram head-on. He said:    “a few weeks ago, our military force demonstrated its superiority over Boko Haram. It’s a long battle, we have to fight against this group of individuals who strike at night and slaughter people…I have sent the defence chief of staff to the Far North with more reinforcement in human and material resources. I call on Cameroonians to maintain confidence in the army.”

He gave the assurance that while in the US, he would hold talks with his Nigerian counterpart, Goodluck Jonathan in regards to the fight against the insurgents.

 Even before explaining the war plan, President Biya had earlier instructed the chief of armed forces to use “Operation Alpha” of the air force to spearhead the fight against the terrorists. That strategic plan involves military search and combat air craft; jet fighters and helicopters to beef up ground troops and the motorised battalion.

The plan, military insiders say, did not seem to be very effective because of bottlenecks in the information chain between Yaounde and the Garoua commands. The source says the military are well equipped to foil such attacks like that in Ali’s home. He says the problem is that when signals are sent to Yaounde, it takes too long before orders are received by soldiers on the field.

The creation of the two commands is therefore intended to avoid the delays and cripple Boko Haram in Cameroon. With the commands in place lead by colonels unlike others that were headed by retiring generals, victory against Boko Haram , The Guardian Post believes, is not far fetch.

But that certainly will not be winning the battle. The wife of the country’s vice prime minister, the mayor of Kolofata and some other fellow compatriots are still being held hostage. So too are ten Chinese. The president and commander-in-chief has to ensure that everything is made to release them. We have no doubt that it is a task that can, and should be done. It will not be the first, second, or even the third time for the head of state to demonstrate that magnanimity.

Several other hostages including a French family, Italian priests, Canadian nun et al taken hostage by Boko Haram have been freed before and credit given to President Biya. The war against Boko Haram cannot be won if our own citizens are held in bondage.

Beyond winning the war and freedom for the hostages, the rippling effects would be heightening highway robbery. There are credible reports that several Cameroonian youths have been trained and recruited into the Boko Haram fraternity. Would many of them not convert to armed robbery when the war is over? Admittedly the Cameroon security has been up to the task in tackling high way robbery but the fundamental question is: Why do young people indulge in such macabre acts of evil, some using the name of God or Allah as a cover? One writer provides an answer which is subject to debate: “When many people become homeless, destitute, ragged, hungry and deprived of the bare necessities of life, they will take what they need by force”. They find themselves in such demonic dire straits because of greed, inequality, tribalism and injustice in society spearheaded by corruption and embezzlement from the public purse.

It is not the military to provide an answer to why youths are taking into such heinous brutality when they crush Boko Haram. Isn’t it the responsibility of politicians and above all religion which in its various twigs is breeding the mayhem called Boko Haram?