The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor says that the Armed Forces and other security agencies are strategizing in promoting kinetic operations to curb insurgency in the country.
General Irabor made this known during a one day Security Summit in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He said, “With the security threats facing the nation coupled with the mandate given to the Service Chiefs by the President, the Armed Forces have no choice but to work together to bring lasting peace in the country.”
The news now is the renewed vigour with which the nation’s Armed Forces have resolved to tackle the menace.
These security threats include terrorism, insurgency, farmers/herders conflict, ethnoreligious conflicts, kidnapping and banditry.
These threats according to him pose an immediate and present danger to the corporate existence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, stability and sustainable development of the nation.
According to him, the appointment of the present Service Chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari has given a clear mandate to them to end these threats in the country.
He added at a one-day security summit holding in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Nigerian leaders are brainstorming on how to achieve the mandate of the president to return the country to peaceful co-existence.
General Irabor said the Armed Forces of Nigeria is already set with actions to bring the security situation in the country under control hence the objective of the summit.
The Nigerian Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashiru Magashi said the Summit came at a sobering time in the life of the nation when merchants of violence are threatening to tear the very foundations of the nation.
According to him, Physical insecurity in Nigeria expectedly has both forward and backward linkages to different shades and forms of national security. Indeed, it is linked to political instability, economic
Others are food insecurity and cumulative environmental degradation. These indicate the multi-dimensional nature of national insecurity.
He said in view of these realities, “The Federal Government of Nigeria, has over the years applied a multi-lateral approach with our contiguous neighbours and multi-dimensional efforts domestically.”
The Director-General of Savanah Centre for Diplomacy Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki who was the Guest Speaker said “The use of forces is the best way to end insurgency and other crimes in the county.”
Ambassador Omaki added there must be collateral damages in using the kinetic method in the fight against insurgency.
The Chief of Defence Training and Operation, Major General LA Adegboye in his welcome address said “the summit would enhance the defence and national security among others benefits”.
The theme of the Summit was “Promoting Kinetic operations as a major plank for Counterterrorism and Counter-Insurgency in Nigeria.”
Dignitaries at the summit include the Director-General Savanah Centre for Diplomacy, Ambassador Abduallhi Omaki, Governors, Political, Traditional, Religious, Community and Opinion Leaders as well as Professional Leaders in the Security and Defence Sectors.
PIAK
