By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA– A group under the aegis of Coalition for Peace and Stability, COPS, Tuesday, almost halted commercial activities at the popular Wuse Market of Wuse District in Abuja, celebrating President Muhammadu Buhari’s success over insurgency.

Members of Coalition for Peace and Stability, COPS,Tuesday, in Abuja, celebrating successes over terrorism by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

According to Members of the group who held the ‘victory’ march from Wuse Market moved to the Presidential Villa, where they described Buhari as the biblical David of Nigeria said he has succeeded in conquering terrorism to a large in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the group, National Coordinator, COPS, Comrade Abdulmumini Tijani, urged the Nigerian military ensure remnants of Boko Haram were crushed in no distant for the country, particularly, those in the North-East, which he expressed optimism that the country would soon breathe a sigh of relief from the terrorists and celebrate total freedom.

Tijani said: “The Institute for Economics and Peace has however auspiciously accelerated our achievement of this objective when it released the Global Terrorism Index 2017. From what is in the news about the report, it shows that the number of those killed in terror attacks have reduced by 80 per cent. What we understand by this is that eight out of every 10 persons that Boko Haram or other terrorists would have killed are alive.

“For us the Coalition for Peace and Stability, this is a testimony that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to fulfilling his campaign promise of restoring security in the country. It is remarkable that keeping this promise has international impact because the global terrorism related deaths fell since the figures for Nigeria dropped. It is our earnest hope that this international impact will translate into positive gains like restored investors’ interest in Nigeria.

“We also expect that those supporting evil by providing sustenance to Boko Haram will see this report as reason to cut off the lifeline they provide to terrorists. Human life is precious and sacred and nothing should be done to cut it short for whatsoever reason.

“Our coalition not only congratulates President Buhari on this positive report but also commend Mr President for this achievement considering that most of the efforts that have gone into degrading and defeating Boko Haram are homegrown. The President was able to achieve the improvement in terrorism ranking without going cap in hand to beg for foreign intervention.

“We also commend the Nigerian Army under the leadership it the Chief of Army Staff , COAS, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, who leads a military to be proud of. Soldiers under his command continue to perform no mean feats even with funding constraints, harassment from international NGOs and blockade of weapons supply by some interested countries.

“COPS urge stakeholders, NGOs and human rights organizations and all well-meaning Nigerians to increase their support of President Buhari’s war on terror because our desire is to record zero terrorism related deaths. The 80 per cent reduction implies that there are still 20 per cent deaths that are needless. Our belief is that when Mr President and the military get more support the remnants of Boko Haram can be further degraded to a point where they are not able to cause sorrows and tears among us anymore.

However, they urged Buhari to take a critical look at the Global Terrorism Ranking to see what areas need improvements, which the military within 2017 and 2018 could make more impact, which they pointed out more support tostrengthen the military in accomplish their mission and to celebrate total freedom from the terrorists.

The group also asked for international support to sustain what the Buhari-led administration has achieved based on the recent rating of its fight against terrorism, which by extension would restore peace to the West African sub-region.

Receiving the group on behalf of the President, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu, thanked the group for their show of support and encouraged them to sustain the tempo.

He said Nigerians did not make any mistake by voting in President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, as he (Buhari) has fulfilled most of his promises made in the build up to elections.

“The president promised to tackle terrorism, and today terrorists are running away from Nigeria”, he added.

According to him, the fight against terror has been the President’s major focus hence the deployment of all arsenals to combat it.

“Today, we have finished dealing with terror and have shifted focus to protecting our neighbours this is why we have concentrated efforts in the Delta areas where we have been very helpful in the fight against sea piracy, and protection of oil installations”

He also disclosed that the President has just purchased a night-vision aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force with the assurance that aerial surveillance will continue at night for the total eradication of the remnants of terror elements where ever they may be.