A Terrorism Research and Community-Based Crimes Consultant, Dr Yahuza Getso, has outlined a strategy he claims could end terrorism in Nigeria within weeks if the Federal Government takes decisive action.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, Dr Getso urged the government to immediately release the names of individuals financing terrorist groups, stressing that doing so would drastically cut off the criminals’ support network and bring insecurity to an end in record time.
“The Nigerian government has said repeatedly that it will release the list of financiers of these criminals. We need that list to identify them. We can resolve this matter within 17–32 days. The number of foreign terrorists is very small,” he said.
Dr Getso emphasised that with honesty and determination, Nigeria could end terrorism in as little as 17 days.
“If we are serious and honest with ourselves, we can handle this matter within 17 days. Some state governors claim there are foreigners involved. Well, I cannot say there are no foreigners, but the number is very minute and involves mostly a few through the belt of the Lake Chad Basin,” he explained.
He pointed out that the majority of those responsible for terrorist activities in the North-Central, North-East, and other parts of the country are Nigerians, not foreigners.
“I have done the profile by polling units, political wards, local governments, state assemblies, national assembly and senatorial zones,” he added.
Dr Getso also criticised the approach of some state governments that claimed to be engaging terrorists in dialogue, saying the so-called non-kinetic measures have yielded little result.
“We have had many of these states, like Katsina and others, saying that they conduct dialogue with them. You can’t call it a non-kinetic measure because if it’s a measure, they could have dropped their arms,” he stated.
