we will catch Shekau before the elections-President Jonathan

 

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau will be arrested before the upcoming general elections.

Jonathan also admitted that he underestimated the threat posed by Boko Haram.

The President stated this during an interview with ThisDay on Friday, February 20, in Lagos.

Excerpts below:

MR PRESIDENT, Elections have been postponed following the security advice of the military who have said they need to secure the North-east. But the question people are asking is: ‘what had not been achieved in six years, how is it going to be achieved in six weeks in the fight against Boko Haram’ ?

In the Council of State meeting when the issue was raised, after the INEC chairman spoke, they asked the Chief of Defence staff to speak. He did not actually specify that the elections should be postponed because of the fight against Boko Haram. He said for the 14th February election, we could not guarantee the security; he did not tell us that it was only because they wanted to rout Boko Haram in the North-east.

So nobody is saying that we must win the war against Boko Haram hundred per cent. We cannot expect to win the war against such terror hundred per cent before the elections anyway but we will not allow them keep all the territories they hold. My belief is that by 28th of next month, when the elections will be conducted Boko Haram may not even be in a position to attack any town, God willing.

Shekau, in a video, just threatened to disrupt the elections. What is your government doing about this?

God willing we will catch Shekau before the elections.