President Goodluck says:Boko Haram will soon be history

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said in Maiduguri yesterday that the Boko Haram insurgency would soon become a history.

The president, who stated this in his condolence message to the family, the government and people of Borno State over the killing of General Mamman Shuwa, said he was passionate about restoring peace to Borno, Yobe and all other crisis-ridden states in the north.

The Civil War veteran was killed last Friday at his Gwange residence in Maiduguri.

Jonathan, who message was delivered by the Minister of State for Youths Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, described the slain retired general as a nationalist that worked tirelessly for the nation’s unity.

Jonathan, who said he was deeply pained by the spate of killings in parts of the north and was working assiduously to restore peace there, added: “The Boko Haram crisis cannot be aligned to any religion as no religion preaches violence. It is just that some guys are hiding under the guise of religion to ferment trouble, but it is a well known fact that no religion condones violence, we pray that the situation becomes history soonest.”

Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima described Shuwa as a tower of strength to many, his community and the government.

“General Shuwa was an iconic soldier, astute administrator and quintessential community man. He was living with the people, fought for the people and died for the people. While his colleagues were living in Asokoro and Lagos, Shuwa lived in the density Gwange area and identified with the people. We are definitely going to miss not only his intellect, but his useful advises,” the governor said.

Other members of the delegation such other ministers of state as Alhaji Bukar Tijjani (Agriculture), Yerima Ngalma (Finance) and Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Sports).

The president has been criticized for failing to visit Borno and Yobe States, the hotbed of the Boko Haram crisis where thousands of people have been killed.