Boko Haram major threat to Nigeria’s existence since Biafra Civil War – Gowon

Former Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, says Boko Haram has been a major threat to Nigeria’s existence after the civil war.

Gowon said Boko Haram had created a major problem in Nigeria.

He spoke in Abuja yesterday during the launch of two books written by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Professor Abdullahi Y. Shehu.

According to Gowon: “Boko Haram has been a threat, perhaps the major threat to the peace and development of Nigeria after the civil war.

“Boko Haram has indeed created a serious problem. After the Civil War, l remember saying, I hope that we will not experience what we went through during that period again. Unfortunately, Boko Haram appeared.”

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Gowon stressed that understanding the impact of Boko Haram would help in solving the problem.

He added: “Understanding the debilitating impact and the deleterious effect of the insurgency on Nigeria is critical to developing innovative solutions to the problem.

“This also applies to the other security challenges that continue to undermine the stability and progress of Nigeria including recent incidences of banditry, kidnapping, farmers/herders problem and other violent conflicts as well as other forms being experienced in Nigeria today.”