That declaration underscores why the conflict is unending as it seems to observers that some people, on both sides, are reaping fortunes out of the war that has lingered for over ten years.
The National Assembly leaders would like the nation to believe that Boko Haram has metamorphosed from a group of religious zealots into an industry. They pointed out that the insurgency has become an industry because what they do is no longer religious. They want us to believe that the insurgents have people from different faiths and countries who are part of Boko Haram. This is a strange twist to the narrative that began with Islamists at the epicenter since 2009.
Lawan didn’t need to reiterate that our armed forces have had their challenges, which he said would continue to be addressed. The issue of lack of needed military equipment for the military should be addressed. But the commander-in-chief has to be worried about this unending war. Huge budgetary allocations have been made to prosecute the war all to no avail. Rather than seeing positive result, a number of the military top notchers prosecuting the war have been involved in alleged massive financial impropriety, thereby giving the impression that the resources meant for the war might have been looted.