*Army chief on new strategy to crush Boko Haram

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, ALBERT AKPOR & EVELYN USMAN

ABUJA-Inspector- General of Police,Mr.  Hafiz Ringim, weekend, denied newspaper reports (not in Vanguard), that a bomb explosion ostensibly by the Boko Haram group went off near his official residence.

He spoke as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, declared that the Army was devising a new strategy to crush the menace of Boko Haram.

Describing the report as not only misleading but capable of impacting negatively on the psyche of Nigerians, the police boss warned that activities of quarry companies in and around Abuja should not be used by the media to create panicky situation in the Federal Capital Territory.

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olusola Amore, said: “The attention of the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, has been drawn to a publication in a national daily, titled, “Explosion near IGP’S home”.

“There is no iota of truth in the entire publication as there was no bomb blast not only within the vicinity of the IGP’s house but the entire Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the quoted date”.

“It is pertinent to note that the activities of quarry companies which is common in Abuja should not be used by the mass media to create panicky situation in the FCT or be used by them for pecuniary advantage to their newspaper.”

Army chief on new strategy to crush Boko Haram
Ihejirika, who spoke, weekend, at the closing ceremony of a week-long training of  the Regimented Sergeant Majors, RSMs, at 81 Division, Victoria Island, Lagos, blamed  military incursion in politics on indiscipline.

He said if there had been high moral and ethical discipline amongst soldiers, they would not have dabbled into politics.

The Army boss, who did not give details of the new strategy, added that his men have made tremendous achievements in the on-going fight against the Islamic sect.

Ihejirika  said: “We are really curbing the menace of Boko Haram and hundreds of them have been arrested as they have also acknowledged that. So, we have made tremendous achievements in the on-going fight against the sect. And, again, a lot is being put in place, training and new methods, intelligent gathering is enhanced and a lot more has been achieved.

”Nigerians should continue to have confidence in the Nigerian Army.  We will eventually prevail and bring the desired results to enable development , peace and stability in the country.”

Describing reports of misgivings amongst some soldiers drafted to North where the activities of the Islamic sect is pronounced,  Ihejirika said the alleged misconduct was not peculiar to the Army.