President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned another Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to address prevailing security challenges in the sub – region .
President Buhari stated that the meeting , which is a follow up to a similar one held in N ’ djamena , the Chadian capital in November , was convened for the adoption of a report of the LCBC security and defence committee on the Boko Haram insurgency .
According to the Nigerian leader , time has come for the evil of Boko Haram to be brought to a definitive end, and expressed the hope that the Saturday’ s summit would take the right decisions in this regard.
“ This is a fight to the finish. We must , and we will, by the grace of God , wipe out terrorism from our sub – region .
The president observed that their participation in today ’ s summit was a clear demonstration of the collective resolute commitment of the sub -region to the fight against the common enemy , Boko Haram, and the restoration of lasting peace and security to the sub – region .
He said , “ Your Excellencies would recall that during our Summit in N’ Djamena , the need to overhaul our current strategy and concept of operations in the fight against the Boko Haram Terrorists took the centre stage of our discussions.
“ This was necessitated by the resurgence of attacks , particularly on the military, and the abduction of civilians for ransom across our borders by Boko Haram with the support of international terrorists who have infiltrated our sub – region .
“ Our meeting today will consider the report of the Committee we set up during our last Summit on the way forward . ’’
President Buhari thanked the Committee for meeting the deadline assigned to it and expressed the hope that their recommendations will bring a new dynamism in the fight against Boko Haram and their international affiliates .
He noted that the Lake Chad region had suffered decades of neglect and poor infrastructural development , saying that the Boko Haram crisis in the last eight years had worsened its already bad situation.
“ We must take cognizance of the fact that sustainable growth and development of the sub – region is dependent on the quick attainment of peace and stability in the area .
“ We must put an end to the crisis in the sub – region to enable meaningful development for its people .
“ We must remain resolute and committed in our collective efforts at attaining peace as well as eradicating terrorism and violent extremism from the sub – region , ’’ he added .
The time has come for the evil of Boko Haram to be brought to a definitive end. I am sure that this summit will take the right decisions in this regard.
“ This is a fight to the finish. We must , and we will, by the grace of God , wipe out terrorism from our sub – region , ’’ he added.
The president maintained that while executing the war against the Boko Haram terrorists , “ we must not be oblivious of the fact that military may not provide the desired results alone . ’’
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