We No Longer Fight Boko Haram But Al-Qaeda – Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh

The ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operation against Boko Haram Islamic sect has evolved to a broader war against Al-Qeada terror networks in North and West Africa.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, expressed this opinion on Wednesday in Abuja when the Social Welfare Network Initiative (SWNI), a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based non-governmental organisations in Nigeria paid him a solidarity visit at Defence Headquarters.

Badeh said that Al-Qeada was now fully in charge of terrorist activities in the country. "I will say this to you, we are fighting more than Boko Haram. We are no longer fighting Boko Haram but Al-Qaeda in North and West Africa. Al-Qaeda is formidable, but we will defeat them. As for our girls, we will bring them back," he said.

The CDS also called on those attacking the military for its alleged inability to put an end to insurgency in the country to desist from doing so. Unconstructive criticisms against the military could be counter-productive and impact negatively on the security in Nigeria, Badeh added.

To recall, on May 22 the UN Security Council Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee blacklisted Boko Haram after the insurgents abducted nearly 300 Chibok female students. The sanctions on the group imply an international asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. The girls remain missing since April 15. 

Source: Legit.ng