B r i n g B a c k O u r G i r l s : O p e n L e t t e r T o T h e P r e s i d e n t - A D E A D E W O L U

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AN OPEN LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT
His Excellency Dr Ebele Goodluck J onathan,
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria
Three-Arms Zone,
Abuja Federal Capital Territory
Nigeria.
His Excellency, President Goodluck J onathan,
Bring-Our-Girls-Back Action-Plan: 10-Point Agenda of Action On Boko Haram
It is with deep sense of feeling for the entire country and in particular the families of
the abducted girls that I am writing this letter to Your Excellency. It is possible that I
am repeating some of the statements that some people might have made privately or
publicly on this subject. If that is the situation, then it only means that any such
statement is the necessary way to go. If, however, I am the first to suggest anything
in this letter, then do consider whatever it is as it is better to act now while the iron is
still hot.
The Nigerian nation has been actively involved in supporting and initiating peace-
keeping and reconciliatory operations across and outside Africa.
A lot of human and material resources have been invested and expended in the unity
of the country, the continent and the world at large. Examples of such exercises
include ECOMOG, UN-Peace-Keeping Operations at various times within and
outside Africa.
These operations have earned Nigeria the needed goodwill to fight and win any
aggression by hoodlums who manifest in the form of Boko-Haram or any other
nuisance to the peace and security of the Nigerian state. Moreover, The Armed
Forces and military personnel in the various formations of the Nigerian security units
are capable of handling the various uprisings by pockets of opportunists and
terrorists. We all only need to address the situation as they are from the points of our
collective strength.
To accept the supremacy of some untrained militia who are equipped with money
from within the system is to say that any aggrieved person can take to the streets
and start bombing several parts of the country in order to make their grievances
known. That, as a democratic society is simply unacceptable.


B r i n g B a c k O u r G i r l s : O p e n L e t t e r T o T h e P r e s i d e n t - A D E A D E W O L U

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The popular view that the Boko Haram operates in some Forest in the north-eastern
parts of Nigeria also needs to be examined carefully. Having travelled by road from
Ndjamena (in Chad Republic) to Zaria through Maiduguri and Kano, I know from
personal experience that there is no forest in those arid desert regions. I often
wonder how vehicles manage to navigate their routes as everywhere seemed like
the road.
If the combined Air-Force and the Regular Army intends to do sweeping operations
in the area, no Boko-Haram operative can withstand their operations. My only worry
is that there has to be genuine will on the part of the Armed Forces. A situation
where the Maiduguri Barracks Armoured Tank was disabled while the Boko-Haram
entered and released their captives makes one feel that some sympathisers of those
groups are working from within the Nigerian Military formations. This must be
addressed if the Nigerian Military must fight and win wars against the enemies
destroying the nation.
The action of Boko Haram clearly is a huge insult to the calibre of Officers and men
of the Nigerian Armed Forces whose combat-readiness have earned them a place
among their compares all over the world. These distinguished serving and retired
Officers of our Infantry and other parts of the Military have risked, and in some cases
sacrificed their own lives in the course of their duty.
While the nation is not under any external aggression, to be harassed by a pocket of
irresponsible hoodlums in the shape of Boko Haram is a disservice to the living as
well as the departed souls of our gallant soldiers.
These wicked, self-seeking, ambitious individuals must not be spared whenever they
are found.
Oftentimes, we need to realise that Mr President is not and has never been a military
officer. However, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, all serving and retired Generals, Officers and Men of the
Nigerian Armed Forces and security units are accountable to Your Excellency. Your
Excellency only needs to assign them to duties as the situation may require.
It is important to always remember that without some conflict, there may be no real
or permanent peace. Events all over the world have proved this time and time again.
Below is a 10-Part Action Plan that I am confident that would address the menace of
the Boko Haram in the language that they would clearly understand. With the scale
at which they are operating, it is impossible for them to find any hiding place from our
combined air and ground combatant attack if they (the Nigerian Military) mean to
subdue the terrorists. The following is my opinion of how to dislodge the group from
wherever they may be hiding:


B r i n g B a c k O u r G i r l s : O p e n L e t t e r T o T h e P r e s i d e n t - A D E A D E W O L U

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1. Mr President (Nigeria) should call an emergency meeting of the Lake Chad
Basin Commission with all heads of the member countries, especially Nigeria,
Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the Central African Republic

2. The President should appoint a combined (Joint Military Services)
Amphibious Brigade Commanders for all the States affected by the Boko
Haram aggression

3. The President should advice all the Civilian Governors to proceed on a 90-
Day leave while the military operation lasts It is a State of Emergency

4. Let the appointed Military Commanders (Serving or retired officers) man the
affairs of the respective states for the period

5. Appoint Former Military Head of State General Abdul-Salam Abubakar (Rtd)
to coordinate the military activities during the 90-day period

6. Put Markurdi Air Command, Kaduna 1 Mechanised Division Army Formation
and all military units in Ibadan, Enugu and other important (Army, Navy and
Air-Force) Units to be on the red-alert for the combined military operation

7. Appoint Retired or serving Army, Naval or Air-Force Officers of the equivalent
rank of Major-General to oversee the emergency operations in each of the
affected states

8. Inform each of the neighbouring countries of the need to search and deal with
any community that has been aiding or abetting the Boko Haram group
wherever they are, within or outside Nigeria. They should cooperate with
Nigerias efforts at this trying time

9. Mark all military vehicles with security codes to prevent any possible incidents
of cross-firing casualties

10. Give the neighbouring countries 48 hours notice prior to commencing the
Boko Haram Military campaign. I am confident that they are not hiding in outer
space. They would be found
Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you
ADEOYE ADEWOLU