Over the last five years, the Boko Haram group has invaded several communities in north-eastern Nigeria, launching deadly attacks particularly in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states. Regardless of the efforts made by Nigerian law enforcement agents, the group appears to be winning the ongoing war between terrorism and justice.

In September 2015, the Nigerian Observer noted; “Nigerian soldiers deployed to the north-east region have, several times, complained that the terrorists are better armed with high-powered assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and even armored personnel carriers.”

A month later, President Buhari asked the military to crush insurgency in the country by December 2015, however, he recently declared that the deadline to defeat Boko Haram, forcing them retreat, is open to change. This means that the timeline given was only meant as a guideline to ensuring the complete elimination of insurgency in the country. But as the year gradually draws to a close with only a few pledges from state officials like Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 12, in charge of Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states, the question on everyone’s lips borders on whether or not the deadline given by the president to end the Boko Haram insurgency will be met.

In a recent interview with BBC correspondent, Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar, President Buhari was asked if he has failed in the fight against the insurgents in northeastern Nigeria. Here’s what he had to say–

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