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Insecurity: Funding Of Military Is Key To Ending Insurgency – Max Gbanite

A Strategic Security Consultant, Mr Max Gbanite, has reiterated the need for the Nigerian government to adequately fund the military to empower them in the … Continue reading Insecurity: Funding Of Military Is Key To Ending Insurgency – Max Gbanite


Max-Gbanite2A Strategic Security Consultant, Mr Max Gbanite, has reiterated the need for the Nigerian government to adequately fund the military to empower them in the counter-terrorism operations in the north-east.

Mr Gbanite’s statement is coming days after the Boko Haram terrorist group declared a town in Borno State, Gwoza, an Islamic caliphate.

The government has dismissed the claims as untrue, but the security consultant on Tuesday stressed that the military’s  effort would not yield much if the hazardous materials of the military and its cyber security remained in its infancy.

He cautioned that the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease could become a weapon in the hands of the terrorist group if an urgent action was not taken in equipping the military.

“Imagine Boko Haram getting their hands on any diabolical material that can be containerised and exposed to the atmosphere, we are finished,” he said.

Despite military efforts to quell the insurgency in Nigeria’s north-east, the Boko Haram sect had continue to carry out attacks, one of the latest attacks resulting in the declaration of the Islamic caliphate.

Their source of funding has become an issue and many Nigerians have stressed the need for the government to track the funding and stifle it.

However, Mr Gbanite stated that identifying the source of funding was as important as identifying their spiritualist, motivator – Imam, chief trainer and suppliers of arms.

Mr Gbanite pointed out that the Boko Haram sect was beginning to change its tactics, moving from asymmetrical war to that of convention by believing or having the impetus to occupy a particular area, capture a particular area, hoist a flag and get repelled.

“They are looking at convention and this is what the military is looking for to make it easier for them to battle. But I hope the Finance Minister will be as optimistic as I am by releasing security budget timely enough so that they can go about and do their businesses. Security is a very expensive thing and you cannot play with it. You do not go to battle holding your private part but holding a weapon,” he said.

The security consultant stressed that what emboldening the terrorists to think they could fight the military was the presence of ungoverned spaces, explaining that some local government headquarters in the state were not functional.

“Be Mindful Of Stephen Davis’ Assistance”

A recent report by an Australian, Dr Stephen Davis, negotiating with the Boko Haram on behalf of the Nigerian government, had fingered some Nigerians as financiers to the Boko Haram sect.

But Mr Gbanite stressed the need for Nigeria to be mindful of the assistance that Mr Davis claimed he was  providing, saying “Mr Davis is a consultant to the National Center Intelligence and Security, the same group that predicted the break up of Nigeria in 2015”.

“He claimed to be very important in the negotiation of the Niger delta militancy. That is yet to be proven but whatever his intendments, it does not augur well for the nation. He has put in a bill of almost 15 million dollars.”

He said that Mr Davis was not contacted by the government to negotiate on its behalf and could just be doing his best to ensure that the prediction comes true.