Nigeria says timeline to end Boko Haram insurgency open to modification

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that the deadline given to the military to end terrorism in parts of the country was open to modification.

Buhari stated this in northwest city of Dutse at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Annual Conference of the Chief of Army Staff.

"Let me emphasize that the time frame given should serve as a guide and if exigencies of multiple operations across the country require modification, the Federal Government will not hesitate to do so in order to address the flash points that are emerging in parts of the country," the Nigerian leader who was represented by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, said.

He added that the Nigerian Army must develop strategies to address the current challenges facing the country and ensure total elimination of the insurgents.

Buhari told his audience that the government would assess the present situation and act appropriately in order to end the menace of terrorism in the country.

The President said that the previously set deadline of December this year was only a guide meant to guide the military operation.

He charged the military to develop new strategies to address the emerging challenges in its operations.

The president reiterated the support of his administration to the armed forces in ensuring that they delivered on their mandates.

He commended the leadership of the armed forces and the Army in particular, for ensuring professionalism and discipline among its ranks, which he noted, had impacted positively on its operations.

Buhari assured Nigerians that the recent gains recorded by the armed forces in the ongoing offensive against Boko Haram, would soon restore sanity to the affected areas. Endit