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I will make sure we catch Boko Haram leader, Abu Shekau before elections - Jonathan


President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he believes the leader of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, responsible for thousands of deaths, will be apprehended by government forces before Nigeria’s elections starting March 28.

Mr. Jonathan disclosed this in an interview with Thisday newspaper on Friday.

​”God willing we will catch Shekau before the elections,” Mr. Jonathan said in response to a question on what his government is doing about Mr. Shekau’s threat to disrupt the elections.

Mr. Shekau, whose group has killed over 15,000 Nigerians, has remained elusive since the sect launched its series of deadly attacks in 2009.

In September 2014, claims by the Nigerian military that Mr. Shekau had been killed during a shoot-out turned out to be a hoax.

Efforts by the Nigerian government to improve the capacity of the army through arms procurement have been repeatedly frustrated by foreign authorities as claims of human rights abuses loom over the military.



But government forces have made significant gains in the war against Boko Haram in the last two weeks, reclaiming some areas seized by the militants.

Mr. Jonathan admitted that the strength of Nigeria’s military was not commensurate with its position as Africa’s largest economy, adding that his government is determined to look inwards for arms procurement.

“Concerning the military strength being not at par to that of Nigeria’s economic development, there are some countries that don’t have powerful military,” Mr. Jonathan said.

“I don’t think Switzerland has a very powerful military. There are some countries that were even doing away with their military until this issue of terror, and now some of them are reconsidering.
“What happened in Nigeria is that after the civil war we had no reasons to buy sophisticated weapons. Since after the civil war, all what we have been doing is peace keeping, apart from stabilising Liberia and Sierra Leone, where our soldiers really fought war to stabilise those countries.
“Back home, we were at peace with our neighbours. It is now that we are witnessing Boko Haram that we see that fighting them is not what we do with AK 47, and now we have to look for money. I totally agree with you, if Brazil can manufacture commercial helicopter, what stops us from going into manufacturing.”

The president further said that if re-elected, his administration would focus on local technologies for arms production.

“Recently, we wanted to buy tear-gas from a country and they were bragging and saying that Nigeria has human rights abuse issues. I kept wondering what is tear-gas? I vowed that God willing if I return, Nigeria must produce tear-gas,” he said.

“What is the technology of producing tear-gas for God’s sake? What is the technology of producing APCs and armoured tanks? I agree with you that in terms of manufacturing, we must and we have no choice than to get into it as a nation. That is why we are emphasising about local content in production; that you can witness in the automobile industry which has come back.”

Mr. Jonathan also said that more companies would be issued licenses to produce arms, to complement the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON.

“Just last week a company that bought over the machine tools in Osogbo came to show the bullet proof vest that they produced and I asked them, can’t you produce weapons and they claimed that they can manufacture weapons if they could be patronised and there is a guarantor,” said the president.

“Yes we have our own DICON, but DICON alone cannot produce all our weaponry. We must have more than two, three companies in a big country like Nigeria.

“I told the company that immediately after the elections, if I’ll be here for the next four years, before they start going for weapons, all the tear-gas that we’ll use in Nigeria, will have to be produced in Nigeria.”
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29 comments

  1. Replies
    1. I thought the killed shekau some months back, which shekau are they talking about. keep watching don't touch the dial #Bringbackourgirls

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  2. Hmmm!BrosJONA! When we no fit MANURACTURE matches na TEAR GAS we go fit MANUFACTURE?

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  3. D same man u couldn't catch in 6years, u want to catch in 6 weeks? Obviously it is true u are about to carry out the plans u and ur PDP thugs are working on capturing fake Shakau and use him to vindicate Buhari as Boko Haram God father. We know about all dis already. Unfortunately, it won't work out. Liar!!!!!!

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  4. Apart from weaponaries, we need to go into other profitable manufacturing for civilian consumptions, and even export, like can foods, various plastic products, etc. Instead na billions all government officials de thieve. No electricity, how posible are these manufacturing, when we can not light common bulbs in our homes. At the moment Binin city is protesting of power shortage, how can we manufacture, with generator?? Companies like Dunlop, Michelin have left nigerian long ago b/c of critical power shortage, yet buhari, gej and others are still fighting for power, refinery is zero. Good countries sell petrol to her people at the rate of 40 naira, this countries dont have crude as much as we have, they squiz crude like soacked towel, yet fuel is 40 naira, cooking gas 0f 22kg is 1200 naira.. Naija politicians, stop decieving nigerians and do the right things. If the country is good we all we enjoy it withouth having to steal, why destroying our home?

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  5. Another BIG plot against GMB and Nigerians. Please read and share.
    The story below reached us this morning (23/02/2015). It came from one of our reliable sources in Nigeria. It is one of the most disturbing stories that we have yet received. Read it and make your own judgement!

    “I have it on a strong ground that there is a plan to capture a Shekau before the week to elections. And the captured Shekau who is currently undergoing training on what to say and do will mention Buhari as one of their core sponsors. The target according to the source is to discourage Southern voters and the Northern Christians (from liking Buhari). The confession is alleged to be so perfectly planned that Buhari may even be arrested and even those who love him may think twice (about his sincerity). The sum of 4.5 billion Naira is purportedly budgeted. The purpose of this budget I am told is for bribing some Northern clerics so when the time comes, they will pacify their followers (to reject Buhari as he is BoKo Haram sponsor). There will purportedly be audio of phone calls (between Buhari and the Boko Haram leaders). Buhari will not be able to sue the government since it will be an arranged confession of a captured terrorist. Now, I am not saying this (leak) is true. But knowing how desperate these PDP people are, they can do just anything to get Buhari out of the way. Honestly, I am deeply, deeply, deeply, worried. In fact, I am troubled. Kindly share this and let the world know about this evil machination of the PDP before it is too late. Kindly do it. The person who gave me this information is an Intelligence officer with the Army. He looks worried too.”

    May God save Nigeria and Nigerians. Amen.

    Dr. Idris Ahmed.

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    Replies
    1. Jus read what u jus post u suck meeee

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    2. They have not even caught the man and you have started confessing.
      Haaaaa Stop telling us what we already know and pray to God that it is not true.
      You already know how the drama will go and how it will end. Use your tongue and count your teeth to discover their true state, because very soon you will tell us without being asked the true relationship between boko haram and APC

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    3. You are a professional idiot

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    4. The poster is a very sick fellow, you claim you don't know how true this information is, but we should just start passing round false information about GEJ your enemy. Aboki go and sit down for gutter, sick group of people.

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    5. u obvoiusly talk like an APC Mole. An intelligence officer told u as what? as a trusted aide or power that be? Look all u APC bigots, stop impersonating neutral commentators in order to poison the society. We are much wiser than that abeg.

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  6. We knew the idea behind shift in election date, it's was for this reason to create fake Shakaru and tag him with Buhari as their god father. GEJ u can't capture Skakaru in 6yrs now u wwant to capture him is 6weeks ur strategist dey try ooooo with this ur stupid idea. We are waiting to see ur plan come as schedule not terrorist will surrender to be capture alive knowing the implications. Check history and records it's very rare. Ay.com

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  7. Imagine!!! How can someone even blve that d person u've been hunting for 6yrs will be captured in 6weeks. And some ppl will still praise blatant lie. Oh my GOD.

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  8. That can not work because the real Sekau will speak latter to proof them wrong.

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  9. buhari told jonathan that declearing on boko haram is a declearation war on the north, and u want us to beliv that buhari is not a boko haram?

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  10. There should be no link between catching Shekau and the election. Let's stop playing these games like children.

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  11. Shekau they claimed died many months ago and proceeded to show us d visual evidence, images. So which shekau is this one o?

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  12. God save this country

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  13. The day APC was born was the day the devil took an apartment in Nigeria . Harden ur heart my president and send hit squads after the devils and their sponsors. Let them taste the bullets and machetes the innocent people of Yobe,Adamawa,and Borno are tasting on a daily basis. Buhari, kwakwanso,tinubu,okorocha and Amaechi ( AMA ya ga echi) should be punished because they are inhuman.

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  14. JONA JONA AND THE PDP SHOULD NOT DECEIVE NIGERIANS WITH ANOTHER FAKE SHEKAU. SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T DO IN SIX YEARS, YOU WANT TO DECEIVE US YOU CAN DO IN SIX WEEKS. WHICH LENDS CREDENCE OF THE RUMOUR THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT KNOWS ABOUT THE BOKO HARAM. YOU WANT TO FOIST A FAKE SHEKAU. WHAT OF KABIRU SOKOTO AND THE OGWUCHE GUY THAT BOMBED NYANYA. A FAKE SHEKAU MAY BOOMERANG. Jay 2, Abuja.

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  15. Good luck with that

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  16. PDP claimEd that shakeu died but you APC disbelieved and made mockery with it Shakeu released a video that he will disrupt elections you believed it how come you are now asking which Shakeu, the one that died? I am now fully passueded that APC is indeed the real Boko Harram , See how they are ranting jettry because their game up, The truth will soon be out. God will expose every hiding enamies of this our beloved Nation! Nigeria will live forever IJN amen

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  17. It's really obvious now that APC is the sponsor of Boko haram. They are sad and worried whenever any progress is made in curtailing this murderous sect. Any person who has the love of the country and the people at heart will be happy with the progress instead of being frightened. The chicken has come home to roost.

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  18. Why is APC jittery and very frightened about shaukau's downfall, ant we suppose to be celebrating and supporting the government on the fight against terrorism? but APC seems to be doing the exact opposite, supporting terrorism against the government. Hope APC supporters are reading the handwriting on the wall! I just pity for all of them.

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  19. As God lives, the truth about Boko Haram will be exposed beyond reasonable doubt very soon. There is no peace for the wicked. The wicked shall not go unpunished.

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  20. GEJ government should tell us, what happen to Buhari credential in his file, as head of state he would have perfected the file in case he didn't have the result. now they are planning to implicate him. we are watching and God is watching.

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  21. America hunted Osama Bin Laden for several years before getting him down. If Obama had told the world two weeks before then that he is hopeful of nabbing the bastard in the next two weeks, people like you would have said that what he couldnt achieve over ten years, he is hoping to achieve in two weeks. The act of catching a criminal is a day job. It is the preparation to achieve it that takes time. Pls Nigerians, lets encourage GEJ to achieve his claim if truely we want an end to terrorism.

    ReplyDelete

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