The Chief of Army Staff COAS Tukur Yusuf Buratai has predicted that terrorism may persist for another 20 years.
Buratai’s comment is coming at a time which the nation is still mourning the massacre of no fewer than 43 farmers with many declared missing in the attack at Zabarmari, Borno State.
The development has sparked renewed calls for the sack of military service chiefs including Buratai.
Amid the outrage sparked by the recent massacre, the Army Chief took to his Facebook Page to note that only Nigerians can contain the lingering insecurity.
“There is a general misunderstanding of what insurgency and terrorism entail. There is a likelihood of terrorism persisting in Nigeria for another 20 years. It only depends on the level of escalation and the appropriate responses by all stakeholders both civil and military authorities,” Mr Buratai said on December 1.
“Also by both local and international actors. Citizens responsibility is equally important and imperative. All must cooperate to contain the lingering insecurity. Let there be collective action and responsibility,” he added.
Boko Haram has been waging terrorism against Nigerians since 2009, terrorising vast swathes of northern parts of the country.
Nigerian civil and military authorities have been largely helpless at containing the 11 years insurgency which security experts warned had mutated into asymmetrical warfare.
