From Tom Garba, Yola
The Nigerian Army has affirmed that Boko Haram are neither Muslim nor Christian but miscreants hiding under the umbrella of religion.
Chief of civilian and military affairs in the Nigeria Army, Brig.-Gen. Rodgers Nicholas, stated this during a press conference held at the headquarters of the 23rd Armour Brigade, Yola Adamawa State.
According to him, the Nigerian Army plans to hold a de-radicalization programme for the North East region, just as it said it would continue to be in the region until the return of normalcy.
He said the de-radicalisation programme which is aimed at restoring peace to the North East, will equally help to give the populace a sense of safety.
Nicholas, who urged the support of stakeholders towards the initiative, said it was the responsibility of all to see that the insurgency “is put behind us.”
Brig. Gen. Nicholas again reiterated the perception of the military of the Boko Haram sect whom he described as a “purely criminal group.”
He urged the public not to be misled into thinking that the group was sympathetic to a religion but instead to see the sect as criminal elements, who have been responsible for maiming the lives of both adherents of all religions, including the destruction of their places of worship.
“This people are basically criminals and that is how we see them in the military,” he said.
The head of civil military relations who said he was in Adamawa as part of the process of drawing awareness on the take off the de-radicalization programme, added that the sensitization of civil societies group will also enable the programme to reach every nook and cranny of the state.
While interacting with civil society groups, international non-governmental organization and representative of religious bodies on its plans to achieve peace and restoration of normalcy, to the embattled region, Nicholas disclosed that the military “will continue to be in the region until we are sure life has returned to normalcy.”
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