Renowned Security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has commended northern political leaders for finally supporting the war on the Boko Haram terrorists.

He said that the support of northern political elite was important to create a synergy in the successful prosecution of the war on terror.

Reacting to the recent deadly attacks on Izghe Community in Gwoza LGA and Kondugha town in Borno State that claimed over 200 lives, Ekhomu commended the Governor of Borno State, Alh. Kashim Shettima for acknowledging that the Boko Haram attacks had reached a “state of war”.

Gov. Shettima had also advised the Federal government that all parties involved in tackling the problem “should stop playing the ostrich and rise up to the challenges of the day”.

Dr. Ekhomu, who is President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) also praised the statement by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Babangida Aliyu that BH attacks had gone beyond traditional pattern of attacks and urged northern leaders to be “frank and refrain from partisanship” in discussing the BH matter.

Commiserating with victims of the Izghe and Kondugha attacks, Ekhomu noted that Nigeria’s war on terror had been unduly prolonged because some political leaders did not appreciate the enormity of the security challenges facing the nation.

He lamented that “a grave security threat like BH was turned into political ping-pong”. He averred that some political leaders had been in a state of denial on the issue of Boko Haram terrorism.

Ekhomu, the first chartered security professional in West Africa said that combating terrorism was not a job for the Federal Government alone, but the joint responsibility of Federal, State and local governments.

He said that purpose of the modern democratic state was the safety of lives and property of citizens and residents.  He advised political officer holders to reduce their focus on the privilege of office and instead focus on service delivery.

Ekhomu described Governor Shettima’s call for proper funding of troops in the front lines as timely since proper resourcing was necessary to successfully prosecute the war on terror.