The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa on Thursday said Boko Haram failed to survive in Kano State due to the commercial nature of the city.
Musa explained that communities in Kano State refused to accommodate Boko Haram members because it would affect their business.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, the Defence Chief said communities play a major role in the fight against insurgency.
According to Musa: “In the North-East we got communities to get youths without any criminal records and profiled by the police and DSS and we gave them some level of training on how to protect their communities. This has assisted us as they help to delay until troops come in to take immediate action.
“We need the support of everyone, in Kano for example. Why did Boko Haram not survive in Kano? Knowing that they are into commerce and Boko Haram will cause a lot of problems for their work, so they refused.
“Anywhere they went to rent accommodation, they were reported. They reported strange faces in their communities and actions were taken. So, this is why we are appealing to communities not to allow them to settle there or give them any support. These terrorists survive within our communities.”
The Defence Chief also accused Nigerians of sabotaging the military’s efforts in the fight against insurgency in the country.
He added: “Nigerians are the ones sabotaging our efforts, the last military Armoured Personnel Carrier that got bogged was the handiwork of the locals. It was the locals that called these terrorists and they came en masse.
“In the North-East, people will go to filling stations, take full tanks and sell to them. We banned the use of urea fertilizer but we have found people hiding them under trucks to sell to them (Boko Haram). If you are able to get it across to them, you make good money; and that’s what people are after.
“We have a lot of sabotage from within and outside that we need to say enough is enough.”