Gowon, however, added that understanding the impact of Boko Haram would help in solving the problem
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has stated that Islamist jihadist organization, Boko Haram, officially known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād is Nigeria’s major existential threat after the 1966 civil war.
He made this known on Friday in Abuja during the launching of two books written by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Professor Abdullahi Y. Shehu.
According to the Plateau State-born former military leader, Boko Haram like the Biafra Civil War has created a major problem that must be confronted with all seriousness.
Speaking during the event, Gowon said: “Boko Haram has been a threat, perhaps the major threat to the peace and development of Nigeria after the civil war.
“Boko Haram has indeed created a serious problem. After the Civil War, l remember saying, I hope that we will not experience what we went through during that period again. Unfortunately, Boko Haram appeared.”
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He went on to argue that understanding the impact of Boko Haram would help in solving the problem created by the Islamist jihadist group.
He added: “Understanding the debilitating impact and the deleterious effect of the insurgency on Nigeria is critical to developing innovative solutions to the problem.
“This also applies to the other security challenges that continue to undermine the stability and progress of Nigeria including recent incidences of banditry, kidnapping, farmers/herders problem and other violent conflicts as well as other forms being experienced in Nigeria today.”