The Defence Headquarters has called for a societal approach in the fight against insurgency in the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this when briefing journalists on the ongoing Military operational activities by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
General Buba said that “the perpetrators of the insecurity are not ghosts; they have families, and relations and are from villages and communities in the country”.
According to him, the mission against terrorists, insurgents and perpetrators of insecurity in the country is not one that should be seen as the exclusive preserve of just the military alone.
He noted that experience reveals that military means alone cannot neutralise terrorism and insurgency.
General Edward Buba said that “recognising this, there are several ways society can show their commitment in support of the overall objective to defeat terrorism and insurgency in the country”.
“Importantly, such commitment should reflect and align with the will of the people”, he added.
According to him, concerning the ongoing operations in the last week, the military neutralised 191 terrorists. Troops then arrested 184 terrorists, 22 perpetrators of oil theft, and rescued 91 kidnapped hostages while a total of 104 BH/ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops across theaters of Operation.
The Director noted that troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 38 dugout pits, 21 boats, and 57 storage tanks among others.
The Military message to these individuals and groups is that they have clocked their game and are laser-focused on pursuing peace, the pursuit of those that threaten the peace in the country.
Meanwhile, there was a minute’s silence for the officers who lost their lives at the cost of defending their fatherland.
Dominica Nwabufo
