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The former Director of State Security Service, Mike Ejiofor, has said that the failed case-fire deal between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect, which also involved the Chadian government, allowed the insurgents, led by Abubakar Shekau, to regroup and restrategise.
Speaking on Nigeria’s security challenges prevalent in the North East region, Ejiofor admitted that the government had mishandled the cease fire deal, noting that such arrangements should not be considered, owing to Boko Haram’s threats to Islamaise the country.
Ejiofor also commented on the ongoing debate about extending the State of Emergency by another six months.
Last week, the Security Chiefs met with the Senate in a closed door meeting to discuss modalities of the extension, after which the Senate committee expressed satisfaction in the Military’s strategies and performance so far in the fight against insurgency.
“I believe it is very important that the extension be given,” he said expressing worry over the possibility of carrying out elections in the three North East States, where the State of Emergency had been in effect.
He supported his position by saying that there had been severe attacks against communities in the North East prior to the imposition of the State of Emergency.
“We had a lot of bombing and attacks on various communities until the State of Emergency was introduced”, he said, adding that the spate of bombings reduced afterwards.
“The question is, if you don’t get State of Emergency extended now, what will be the situation? It will be worse that this”, he said insisting that those who were against the extension were misinformed and misguided.
Ejiofor’s position on the SOE extension appears to be in consonance with that of the former Director, Army Legal services, Major-General Muyiwa Badewole (RTD), who on Wednesday, warned that the security situation in the North East region of the country may worsen if the State of Emergency was not effected immediately.
Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan’s request to the House of Representatives to extent the State of Emergency was declined as lawmakers urged him to make use of his powers as Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces to deploy troops to the area.
Despite the botched cease-fire which involved Chadian president, Idris Derby, and a reported second attempt at a dialogue with the terrorists, Ejiofor said that “government should go all out to put an end to this insurgency by flushing out Boko Haram”.
He noted that the only time the government should opt for dialogue is when the negotiation is initiated by the sect.
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