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The internet is abuzz with Sheikh Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami’s prescriptions to end over 10 years of terrible onslaughts by Boko Haram in the north eastern part of Nigeria.
Since factional leader of the Haram terrorist group, Abubakar Shekau, in a video clip that appeared online, last week, threatened to “deal” with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, for allegedly threatening to block communication access to the outlaws, social media has witnessed unending debates on how Nigeria could utilise Pantami’s panacea to cut the terrorists to size.
Pantami enjoys a fearless reputation as a Muslim cleric and an administrator charged with managing Nigeria’s information technology (IT) portfolio. In NITDA, where he held sway before his appointment as a cabinet minister, the former IT lecturer and social critic of note, was held in high esteem as an incorrigible and due-process compliant administrator.
Known to speak his mind without fear, Pantami had, at a recent public function, made some suggestions on how the country could checkmate excesses of Boko Haram. His suggestions have been trending ever since then as Nigerians seek for solutions to terrorism and banditry across the country.
This week, Nigerian-born writer domiciled in Germany and social influencer, Frisk Larr, joined the conversations on making use of Pantami’s panacea to tame the country’s terrorists.
Larr posted thus in his Facebook page: “I lifted the following beautiful suggestions on stopping the Boko Haram menace from a comment somebody made on a third-party post. The suggestions were reportedly made by one Sheikh Dr. Isa Pantami Ali, who ended up incurring the wrath of Boko Haram with threats to his life. “These are the sound suggestions:
- Expel all international humanitarian organizations.
- Close Nigeria borders with Chad, Cameroon, and Niger effectively.
- Total blockade of Sambisa forest by Ground troops and massively sustained raid by the Nigerian air force.
- Invite Russian military advisers.
- Hold emergency meetings with America, France for technical and tactical cooperation.
- Strict Financial surveillance against the funding of Boko Haram.
- Deployment of Technology e.g drones and advanced military hardware.
- Favorable welfare package for the Nigerian Army.
- Relocation of all service chiefs to the theater of operations and well-coordinated Intel gathering mechanism.
- A military special court for the trial of Boko Haram members, supporters and funders.
- Unity of purpose by all Nigerians against Terrorism, criminality, and violence.
- Prayers by all religious leaders for peace and unity advocacy.
- FG should establish a synergy between security and the public towards exposing, fishing out terrorists and criminals.
“My view: With the exception of point No. 12 calling for worthless prayers, anything short of the actions suggested above is tantamount to complicity and promotion of the endless insurgency. Seriousness demands a fast implementation of the proposals.”
