The indulgence into criminality by some Nigerians is really strange and  awful. The rapidity and magnitude Boko Haram Terrorism expanded its  viciousness in Nigeria stunned infinitely.
The existence of caves in some forests in Kogi state and other parts of  Nigeria, which served as factories for the manufacture of terrorists  lethal weapons or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), which were freely  circulated melted the heart. It became business for some criminal-minded  Nigerians, as it blossomed incredibly, until security agents were able  to discover and dislodged the evil factories.
A few days ago, the Nigerian Army reported the arrest of a Local  Government Council chairman and suspects of BHTs, in Nigeria’s  Northeastern state of Borno. Against all good conscience, the embattled  council boss harboured, fed and nourished fleeing insurgents, who could  no longer withstand the superior fire power of the Nigerian military in  the jungles and forests. And the reason was simple! It was to  re-energize them to again begin to unleash terror on Nigerians.
Therefore, anti-terrorism campaigns are not easy wars to fight anywhere  it erupts. The tactics of terrorists in engaging an innocent humanity is  scary and comes in dozens. Terrorists operate on the fields; boast of a  dozen sponsors or financiers and have thousands of veiled agents and  sympathisers, who act in various ways to sustain the evil. The Nigerian  Army is not oblivious of these colours and manifestations of terrorists.
To this end, even though troops have  eventually conquered terrorists  in the Northeast and Nigeria, with the final demolition and  demystification of the Sambisa forest, a Boko Haram Terrorist’s  enclave in Borno state, where scores were killed; security experts know,  it is just the beginning of the final end.     And since the collapse of Sambisa forest, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)  Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai has churned out series of warnings to the  public, alerting them of the fusion of some fleeing remnants of Boko  Haram terrorists into Nigerian cities and communities.
But most importantly, Buratai knows that despite the defeat of  terrorists in Nigeria, terrorists do not dissipate in a jiffy, as  insurgents contrive more insidious ways to fight back. And the fusion of  the residues of fleeing terrorists into the wider society is one of the  several strategies insurgents have devised to occasionally hit back to  an unsuspecting society that has suffocated its survival. In the past  weeks, scores of bolting insurgents have been arrested in Lagos, Abuja,  towns and villages around Nigeria.
The Army Chief has also placed soldiers on red alert in order to rise to  the occasion when the need arises. Consequently, the arrest of a council  boss in Borno, who housed terrorists, is the effect of this vigilance by  Nigerian soldiers, which is variously symbolic to the essence of the  counter-terrorism war.     Before now, Nigerians were inundated with campaigns of the existence of  several wings of Boko Haram terrorists operating in the country. But  many never considered it a point to ponder. But indisputably, there is  the business wing, political wing, Cyber Space wing  and the religious  wing of Boko Haram terrorists, who were domiciled in the caves and  forests of the Northeast.
The Nigerian Army has meticulously trailed, assailed, battled  and  defeated the religious, business and cyber space wings of Boko Haram  terrorists. The present terrorism torment of Nigerians is rooted in the  political wing, which is cleverly and neatly concealed in some dubious  Nigerians, who are unfortunately in the corridors of power. The arrest  of the council chairman in Borno state, who shielded fleeing terrorists,  is proof of this bludgeoning mess within the political class, who are  determined to ensure Nigeria is never freed, but manacled under  insurgency.
The incident has opened a fresh vista in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism  campaigns. It means, Nigeria’s intelligence community must necessarily  expand its dragnet and pulsates its searchlight to fish out actors and  sponsors of terrorism within the political class. The actors are in  multitude,  and they also, secretly exhibits sympathy and sponsorship  of terrorism multifariously. The anti-terrorism campaigns became  prolonged and difficult because of their involvements at different  layers.
Therefore, the political promoters, supporters or those who covertly  connive with terrorists to destabilize Nigeria, must not be allowed to  go scot-free, but identified and made to pay for their sins against the  nation state.
The Nigerian Army has a daunting task to perform in this regard, by  finally purging Nigeria of the virus of political terrorism, now  prevalent in government circles. They provide the essential nourishment  by funding and preserving insurgency to thrive.
The initiative of the Nigerian Army to now scout for sponsors and  promoters of terrorism cannot be extricated from holistic anti-terrorism  campaigns in Nigeria.  The approach is extremely timely and rewarding.  And all Nigerians should rise up in support of this cause. It will not  only practically eliminate terrorism in all forms, but also obliterate  its shadows in government circles and the political life of Nigeria.
It is therefore germane to advocate that the Nigerian Army and other  security agencies should be encouraged and given the necessary support,  especially in intelligence gathering in the onerous task of fishing out  these hideous, unpatriotic and devilish terrorists elements. It is  imperative now before they summon courage and energy to regroup to begin  another round of mindless orgy of violence on innocent Nigerians.
International human rights organizations’ must have to give Nigeria a  breathing space. The Nigerian Army under Buratai is professionally  oriented and records indicate that its interface with the civilian  population in Nigeria has so far not shown any evidence of human rights  abuses or violations. So, there is no cause to be afraid by allowing  them defend public interest to whatever extent.
Therefore, when the military intensify the haunt of suspected sponsors  of Boko Haram terrorists in the country to face trial in court, the  first outcry of the suspects to the international community would be  unfounded allegations of political persecution. No one is in doubt of  the tricks.
Years back, some political bigwigs in the country were fingered in  sponsorship of terrorism in the country, but the matter silenced after a  few months of media hype. It is the deliberate refusal of Nigerians to  tackle such issues frontally that festered terrorism in the country.
So, Nigerians would be angered if these international human rights  groups rise in defence of such criminals, by preferring to forget their  criminality to drum human rights violations against the Nigerian Army  and the administration of President Muhammedu Buhari.
Nigerians have suffered enough in the claws of terrorists and it is time  terrorism is uprooted in all its forms and ramifications. Certainly,  time has come for soldiers’ blisters on terrorists to go beyond the  frontiers of field battles, by confronting the last segment and  vestigesk of terrorism as concealed in the personality and offices of  some dubious politicians.
Written by Charles Ibekwe.
