Nigeria’s former Chief of Staff, General Theophilius Danjuma (retired) on Wednesday, told President Goodluck Jonathan and other high ranking officials of government that the war against the Boko Haram insurgents is not only taking too long, but the terrorists appeared to be having the upper hand in the battle.

Shekau, middle and his bombers . AFP

Danjuma who was also a former minister of Defence spoke during the inauguration of Boko Haram Victims’ Support Fund Committee Fund  inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa Abuja this morning.

Danjuma who spoke after the inauguration of the Committee of which he is the chairman therefore called on the President to ensure immediate end to the war against Boko Haram terrorists which he said the country must win “We must win this war. Mr President, we must win this war,” the former minister of Defence  stressed in his remark directed at the President.

While assuring the President that the Committee will carry out its terms of assignment, the retired General however said members would not go to Sambisa forest, which is considered the hideout of the Boko Haram sect.

This was in response to earlier comment by the President that members of the committee should be ready to visit all parts of the country including the forest. “Mr. President, we won’t go to Sambisa Forest. As the Commander-in-Chief, you should take the lead and we will follow,” Danjuma said jocularly to the amusement of those present at the inauguration.

The President had earlier said in his inauguration speech that he owes Nigerians victory against the Boko Haram while lamenting that attacks by the insurgent group had claimed lives of many Nigerians and destruction of valuable property President Jonathan said the days of the insurgents are numbered as their sponsors would also be exposed very soon.

He also asked Nigerians to continue to support the security agencies to ensure that they win the war against Boko Haram.

President Jonathan also called on all Nigerians to spare a thought for the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency and donate generously to the Fund. A minute silence was later observed in honour of all the victims of the terrorist attacks in the country.

The Committee, as announced by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim last Monday  “is to mobilise resources and administer appropriate support to victims of insurgency and Boko Haram terror activities all over the country.”

Former  banker and vice-presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Fola Adeola, will serve as the vice chairman of the committee which also has Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Mr. Cosmas Maduka and Mr. Jim Ovia as members.

Other members are: Alh. Mohammed Indimi, Alh. Abdulsamad I. Rabiu, Alh. Sani Dauda, Mr. Wale Tinubu, Alh. Sani Sidi, DG, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Air Vice Marshal Tony Omenyi (representing defence headquarters). Others are CP Salisu Fagge, representing Nigerian Police Force, Mr. Sayana Yusuf, representing Department of State Services, Chief Uche Secondus, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Alh. Tijani Tunsah, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), representative of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representative of Jamaatul Nasril Islam (JNI) ‎and Mrs. Nkechi Mba, representing National Council of Women Societies.

Also in the committee are: Prof. Ben Angwe, executive secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), representative of the United Nations (UN), representative of Department for International Development (DFID), representative of Unites States Agency for International Development (USAID), representative of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Alh. Balarabe Musa, representing Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), and two representatives of local civil society/youth groups (a male and a female).

The office of the secretary to the government of the federation will service as the secretariat.

The terms of reference are: to identify sources and ways of raising sustainable funding to support victims of Boko Haram terror activities to develop appropriate strategies for the fund raising to ascertain the persons, communities, facilities and economic assets affected by Boko Haram terror activities to assess and determine the appropriate support required in each case; To manage, disburse or administer support to the victims as appropriate to address related challenges as may be appropriate and to advise Government on other matter(s) necessary or incidental to support victims of Boko Haram terror activities.