[Boko Haram Crisis] They Must be Defeated at "ALL COST" – Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday said the excesses of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, must be curbed, not minding what it would cost the government.

“The excesses of Boko Haram must stop. That is the decision of this present government now. It must stop, whatever it will cost the government, it must stop,” 

The President boasted that the government had the wherewithal to confront the reign of terror being unleashed by the sect members and that their actions were already being confronted with his recent declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. The President said with the level of success so far recorded by the military in the affected states, he was optimistic that the emergency rule would end soon.

“The military intervention in the affected states is going on well. There is no human rights abuse and there is no collateral damage with regards to security of individuals. I am optimistic that with the level of success already being recorded, the emergency rule in the affected states may not last up to the six months stipulated by the Constitution,” he told Ban.

The President added that his government’s medium term strategy was to concentrate more on education.

He observed that the part of the country, where there had been prevalence of Boko Haram activities, has the highest rate of school dropouts.

Jonathan said the idea behind the intervention was to make sure that people received education so that they would not be easily brainwashed.

He said another government’s approach was to create an economic environment that would afford individuals opportunities to fend for themselves.