As Terrorists Scamper For Safety

As the news of the
air bombardment of the enclaves of the members of the Boko Haram terrorists group in the north-east by the military, rents the air, some of the displaced persons especially those in Abuja camp, were said to have expressed joy, yet with reservations.
Ofcourse, their feelings may not be out of place for “once beaten” they say, “twice shy”. The people of the terrorists –infested region have known, seen and experienced enough terror within a short time, to ask them  for a –come-back, may mean asking for too much at the moment, even though a come-back is eventually certain, the sooness may be difficult to ascertain.
The spokeman for the military, Major-General Chris Olukolade, has told the public that the Air-Force had stepped up air operations, having identified targets in Gwoza, Bama and Sambisa Forest, preparatory to other phases of the mission. In the words of the spokesman, “The air strikes had been successful as they achieved the aims, hitting vital targets with required precision forcing the terrorists to scamper for safety”. Good talk! You may say, but to where have these terrorists scampered for safety remains a puzzle begging for solution.
For the displaced persons, it is a known fact that the terrorists emerged from somewhere, known only to them (the terrorists) before they ambushed and captured the areas known today as Boko Haram’s territory, they (the displaced) also know that scattering the terrorists is simply sending them back to where they hitherto operated from, for preferably a counter attack hence, while their joy, may know no bound over the military’s efforts to decimate the terrorists and reclaim the communities under their siege, their fears to return to their communities may hardly be assuaged in a hurry. Why?, they said “the terrorists may return”.
Although Major General Olukolade had said that the troops were focusing on consolidation of the security of the area, to pave way for return of residents, Nigerians would want to be assured that this is not going to be another political propaganda aimed at securing the goodwill of the people even at the risk of their own lives.
Perhaps it may have been in line with this thought that The Bring Back Our Girls campaigners demand that politics be sieved out of matters of security if the government must be seen to be genuine.
In its quest to reclaim areas under the control of the terrorists, the military in Nigeria released a video on Monday showing people running in different directions, the public was told that it was the aerial bombardment of a community believed to be the hideout of members of the sect. What therefore is not clear was if all that were scampering for safety were all of the Boko Haram family or were there some innocent, harmless residents who also ran for their lives not knowing what was in the offing, especially having experienced series of bombing in recent times?
Two things are possible in dealing with a troublesome sect like the Boko Haram; it is either an outright annihilation or a seeming dispersal of the people. The latter ofcourse, is like temporarily taking them out of the scene to recoup for a revenge and deadly mission.
The mission of the Multinational Joint Task force however, will either  render its adventure futile or worthwhile. A total silencing of this menacing group will do us a great good instead of dispersing them to Godknows where and think it is a great achievement.
I think that anything worth doing at all, is worth doing well. Even though questions had been raised from some quarters as to why the delay in commencing this offensive mission, the timing may actually be secondary, what is key is that an offensive mission has been commenced at last and that it is bound to succeed with or without seasonal or regular briefing as it concerns situation’s report. The Nigerian Community will feel the silencing and relegating to the background of the terrorists that once troubled our collective peace and progress.
While we must all resolve to fully support the efforts by the military and government’s renewed the Multinational Joint Task Force, there is the need to ensure that real progress is being made to bring back peace to the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi