Why Boko Haram, other terror groups difficult to defeat, by Olonisakin

• Nigeria partners U.S., Israel, others on acquisition,installation of equipment
• Military plan probe, groups condemn Bassa killings

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, yesterday adduced that global and transnational dimensions of Boko Haram terrorists organisation and others worldwide were the reasons why the military was yet to easily defeat terrorist groups.

He also said that the revolution in information and communication technology had compounded the efforts of world’s militaries in dealing with the terrorist groups.However, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the Federal Government had entered into a collaboration with the United States (U.S.), Israel, the United Kingdom (UK), Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia not only in capacity-building, but also in acquisition, installation as well as application of technologies in countering terrorism.

Olonisakin, who spoke at the opening ceremony of international seminar with the theme “Managing Asymmetric Security Challenges in the 21st Century,” organised by the Nigerian army, noted that managing emerging threats by terrorists had become a fundamental challenge in view of the global and transnational nature, which had been compounded by the revolution in information and communication technology.

In another development, the military special task force (STF), code-named Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has said it will investigate the involvement of soldiers on duty at Nkiedonwhro Village in Bassa Local Council of Plateau State where the villagers were attacked and over 27 persons killed in their sleep.

This is coming on the heels of the denial by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN) yesterday that it carried out the killings.Also, Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), the umbrella body of all the 56 ethnic nationalities in the state, has condemned the continuous killing of people in some parts of the state.