The killing last week of dozens of students in
a secondary school in Gombe State by a sui
cide bomber was one sad incident that has taken the menace of insurgency in the North East to a critical level and underscores the need for a new approach to the fight against the renegades.
It is worrisome that the insurgents have continued to target schools in furtherance of a misguided ideology that Western education is sin. It is even more worrisome that these religious bigots consider it the will of their god to kill other people’s innocent children who have chosen to improve themselves and their society through education.
Nigerians are, without a doubt, becoming increasingly impatient with the brazen callousness of the insurgents who seize territories and create a regime of fear in the country. Sadly, because of the perceived weakness of the Nigerian military to respond appropriately to Boko Haram, the Gombe State Commissioner of Police and his team were barred from the site of the suicide bomb attack at the Gombe Science College by a mob.
The mob were also said to have blamed soldiers for the continued security breach. As dangerous as the mob’s action may appear, it shows the despair of a people who may not mind taking their own destiny in their own hands by willing to confront their attackers even with mere stones.
Indeed, the Boko Haram threat has become un-acceptable as they intimidate the citizens, take hostages and convert Emir’s palaces into operational bases. In some Local Government Areas, the insurgents not only hoist their flags and re-name towns, they enforced their own version of the Islamic religion.
People are being forced to convert to Islam or get killed, churches destroyed and the spate of violence has become so high that the Igbo apex leadership organization, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo has  asked their kinsmen to relocate their families and businesses from the North East. The point is clear, things are getting out of hands.
The decision of the Senate to invite the Military High Command was no doubt to assess the entire insurgency containment effort, to ensure that Nigerians are spared the orgy of mass murder, salutary explanations and condemnation that comes after every attack.
Even for the civilians, it has become rather imperative that the military will need to change the modus operandi and rules of engagement that would adequately match the monstrosity of the insurgency. As the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State declared, the Boko Haram sect comprise of criminals and secessionists who have elected to fight Nigeria and deserve tougher military action.
The Federal Government should therefore demonstrate more courage to protect the lives of her citizens. This requires getting more reliable intelligence and technology, including procuring arms from friendly sources. Indeed, anybody within or outside the country that tends to aid Boko Haram should not be spared.
We also urge the Federal Government to review its channels of communication and negotiations with neighbouring countries in order to improve their level of cooperation and support and abort any possible conspiracy with the Boko Haram sect that could aid or abet insurgency in any way.
We are appalled that in spite of roles Nigeria plays in global peace keeping, the country has not received commensurate assistance in this crucial battle against Boko Haram. While effort to procure arms from South African ran into a scandal, the United States of America has refused to sell arms to Nigeria, over reasons that are still hazy and condemnable.
The Tide thinks that enough is enough, Nigeria must defend herself. This therefore, calls for all citizens to rally round the military with vital intelligence and moral support to boost the capability of our soldiers. In this regard, we commend the hunters who supported the military to flush Boko Haram out of Mubi, as it shows that with determination, honesty and co-operation even by local residents, Boko Haram can be stopped.