Civil Rights Group Honours, Buhari, Military with commendation rally in Lagos

A coalition of civil rights group under the umbrella name, ‘Eko Civil Right and Peace Movement‎’ has organised a rally to mark the one year anniversary of the Nigerian military, seizing the stronghold of the Shekau-led Boko Haram, which has terrorised communities in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.

The group’s president, Comrade Adumashin Ayokunle, d‎uring the rally, heaped praises on President Buhari’s resolve when elected in 2015, to take the war on insurgency seriously, which he believes has yielded positive results.

“The rally being held today, December 28, 2017, also coincides with the announcement which got to us about 4am, in 2016, about the fall of Camp Zero which was the strongest spiritual and military hold of Shekau and his faction of Boko Haram. From aerial images we could see this time last year how the cowards were surrendering in large numbers to our troops, women and children being rescued and how Abu Shekau deserted his shrine leaving his Quran and the black ISIS flag behind at the camp.”

“We are here to celebrate the achievement of the military and the Nigerian Army in particular, who over the years have become a willing partner in progress through their numerous military drilling like Operation Crocodile Smile 1 and 2, Operation Python Dance 1 and 2 to keep the country and particularly Lagos State free from criminals.

Adding that, ‎”Our people are eager to have Operation Crocodile Smile 3 in January not because the criminals have returned but have started missing the CSR intervention programs that usually accompany same by the Nigerian Army anytime we see them coming to carry out their legitimate and constitutional duties to the state. Without sounding immodest, the Eko Civil Rights and Peace Movement is therefore demanding for the immediate commencement of Operation Crocodile Smile 3 in the South-West to support our dream of an ideal Lagos which is a home to all kinds of businesses and transactions.”

Ayokunle restated that the efforts to fight‎ crimes and criminality has helped the likes of Lagos state, enjoy a relatively peaceful economic and business status.

“You may recall that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja prior to 2015 was partially taken over by Boko Haram terrorists who started their operations in the North-East and were spreading fast to the South-West after installing its command and control Centre in Okene, Kogi State for the upward movement. This invariably raised the question as to when Lagos will fall into their trap”

“The coming of President Buhari was however to mark the turning point of this dream by Boko Haram and their agents who had vowed severally to have built enough cells in Lagos and preparing to strike to beat a retreat and return back to their enclaves in the North. Other criminal elements in the South-west had buckled their shoes to capitalize on the notorious confusion that is to follow such attacks by Boko Haram anywhere close to Lagos but were later disappointed that their evil plans were thwarted by the administration of President Buhari that has continued to place premium on security.”

“We must give kudos to President Buhari and particularly the Service Chiefs who supervise the various operations to kick out terrorism, national assets vandalism, kidnappings, Separatists and threatening extreme fundamentalist ideologies, cattle-rustling , ethnic killings etc but still believe they can still do more in the year 2018 if given the necessary budgetary support and cooperation by all relevant stakeholders in and outside the county. These threats to our society are real and deserve the kind of military precision that the Nigerian Army has used in tackling them in recent times.”

“The recent extension of tenure for the Defence and Service Chiefs in Nigeria by President Buhari are clear indications that Mr. President truly understands the enormity or work to be done in turning around the economic fortunes of our country in the nearest future which security has a major role to play. The decision didn’t come to us a surprise considering the shortest period of time that was used by the Nigerian Army to defeat and degrade Boko Haram into a mere criminal gang of local thieves begging for survival and taking to soft target attacks and stealing of livestock from villages where they can still access only at nights.”

He called on Mr. President to see the overwhelming applause that greeted the extension of the Service Chiefs’ tenure as a clarion call for his administration to do more in the areas of security and other sectors that derive their existence from a working security in the country.

“Without asking for too much, the Eko Civil Rights and Peace Movement is using this medium to unequivocally nominate the Defence Chief and Service Chiefs for the National Honours of Grand Comander of the Order of the Niger[GCON] for their exemplary leadership qualities and patriotism to the Nigerian State.”