NLC Boss Advises FG On Boko Haram Insurgency

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, has advised the Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan on how to end the Boko Haram insurgency across Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday, 28 August, 2014, after commissioning the office complex of the FCT branch of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Federal Council, in Abuja, the labour union boss implored the Federal Government to block all channels of food supply to members of the Boko Haram insurgents as a way of forcing them to abandon their terrorist adventure.
Omar asked the FG to deploy more troops to the frontline states to assist in the battle against the insurgents.
He said that experience has shown that closing exit and entry points of supply to insurgents can prove to be a good weapon, saying it was time for the country to begin to think of alternative means of ending the Boko Haram crisis.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Insurgents Relocate From Sambisa
Omar also lamented that Nigerian workers have been at the receiving end of the sect activities, saying “the Nigerian workers especially in the frontline areas of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe are the most affected by the insecurity.
“They are the ones who shuttle between their houses and places of work and these are the people who are caught in between.

NLC president, Omar

“Quite a number of Nigerians workers have been killed along with other Nigerians. The issue of insecurity is a very serious one and we really want to call on government to intensify efforts, particularly concentrate efforts in trying to combat this problem in areas where it is very prevalent.
“People have suggested that if government can deploy as much as 30,000 security personnel to monitor election in one state, there is nothing stopping the government from deploying more troops to areas experiencing insurgency and ensure that we end this thing once and for all.
“I have always said that when it happened during the Maitasine era, the federal government took decisive measure and within three days, it was brought under control.
RELATED: ‘Boko Haram Has 50,000 Members In Its Camp’
“When it happened in Burunkutu in Borno State, the government took decisive measure and within few days, it was brought under control. I see no reason why such a decisive measure cannot be taken.
“I know that the government is being cautious because we have our daughters in captivity and it is a very serious issue. I think we should begin to think about other means by which we can end this thing.
“Closing up on them is a strategy. If you close up on these people and block all channels through which they can move about will force them to come out in search of food and other essentials. That is the best way, if you cannot defeat an enemy through bombardment and other means, you can use siege to block him or her to ensure that you force him or her to either surrender or perish.”
The Boko Haram sect have intensified its terror attacks in northern Nigeria and other parts of the country since 2009.
The Islamist group is believed to have killed at least 10,000 people while tens of thousands of others have been displaced as a result of the insurgency especially in northeastern Nigeria.
The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, on Monday released a video where he said the group has proclaimed Gwoza town in Borno state as Islamic caliphate.
Few hours after, the Nigerian military dismissed Shekau’s claim, saying Gwoza remain under the control of the Joint Task Force, JTF.
Also, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minimah promised that the Nigerian army would soon launch a massive attack on the insurgents across Nigeria.