SECURITY ALERT WITH JIDE

Govt to go after politicians behind Boko Haram.

Barring a last-minute change of mind, the Federal Government will soon begin a comprehensive investigation of politicians suspected to be behind terrorism, especially in the Northeast – hotbed of the deadly Islamist group, Boko Haram.
This development follows the acceptance of the recommendation of the  Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the Northeast.
Also, the committee, headed by Amb. Usman G. Galtimari, has identified some routes in the Northeast where arms and explosives are allegedly  being imported into the country for terror attacks.
Besides confirming the involvement of  aliens in terror attacks, the panel urged the Federal Government to deport illegal foreigners.
It traced  the Boko Haram crisis to the extra-judicial killing of the sect’s leader and his followers in 2009 and the failure of the police to bring the culprits to justice.
On the whole, the committee endorsed dialogue with Boko Haram if the sect leaders are ready to renounce violence.
The panel made 10 short-term recommendations and three long-term options.
The findings and recommendations of the panel are contained in the White Paper on Galtimari Committee which has just been released by the Federal Government.
The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, on August 2, last year.
Members of the committee are: Amb. Usman G. Galtimari(Chairman); Senator Ali Ndume; Chief Joe-Kyeri Gadzama(SAN); Col. Musa Shehu(rtd); Senator Bala Mohammed; Dr. Bello Mohammed; Chief Emeka Wogu; and Alhaji A.B. Shehu.
Following the submission of a final report by the panel in September last year,  the SGF raised a seven-man White Paper Drafting Committee, which was headed by Comrade A. Mora.
Other members of the committee are: Alh. Bukar Tijani; Esther G. Gonda; Alh. Abdullahi Yola; Mr. Usman Abubakar; Mr. Jubril Adeniji; Mr. L.E. Njoku; and Mr. U. Onwuanuokwu.
On the rise of the Boko Haram menace, the panel attributed it to the killing of Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and many members of the sect in 2009.