Date: 2014-08-25

Former Chief of Army Staff, General Salihu Ibrahim, at the weekend expressed optimism that the insurgency rocking the country will soon become a thing of the past.

He sought the understanding and cooperation of Nigerians in the efforts to end insurgency, saying terrorism takes time to defeat, especially when the "target is not defined".

>p>Ibrahim spoke with newsmen in Ilorin, shortly after the opening of a two-day entrepreneurship and vocational workshop for youths and women in Kwara State organised by Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation. He said the government and security agencies are capable of tackling the insurgency.

"I think the government is up to the task and they are doing their best. If you read newspapers, you would see how much they are pumping into the operation and I think it won't take too long. But please note that insurgency takes a while. You and I may cry over the length of time it seems to be taking us. We must be aware that in an insurgency situation, the target is not defined, it has no defined area. They live with us, they are our brothers and sisters, they dine with us. Then in the night, they sneak out and carry out their nefarious activities and we don’t know who and who are supporting them," he said.