The head of Nigeria's armed forces, General Christopher Musa, has urged the country's security agencies to locate and eliminate criminal groups that pose a threat to stability within the nation and the broader Sahel area.
The CDS, who addressed the closing ceremony of Exercise Haske Biyu, a joint security training hosted by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), located in Jaji near Kaduna on Thursday, stated that eliminating these criminal elements is the sole path for Nigeria and the Sahel to achieve peace.
He cautioned that insurgency, terrorism, and banditry continue to pose significant dangers not just for Nigeria but for the whole Sahel region, emphasizing that armed factions take advantage of weak borders to move and act without restrictions across nations.
"At the conclusion of the day, our sole responsibility is to seek out the villains and eliminate them. This is the only path to achieving peace," stated the Defence Chief.
Musa argued that no one country can tackle the threat on its own, advocating for collaboration across the region as the most reliable way to achieve peace.
"If we focus only on our borders, we will keep facing challenges. However, if we come together and collaborate across them, it leads to a better situation," he said, using the Multinational Joint Task Force in Chad as an example of how nearby nations can join forces to eliminate insurgents.
The head of the military also connected effective missions with strong community involvement.
He highlighted that without the involvement of locals, armed factions would keep finding refuge, stating, "when communities stop these groups from remaining, they will no longer be able to survive."
Musa called on Nigerians to view security as a shared obligation, rather than solely the role of military and law enforcement personnel, emphasizing that community backing is essential for achieving lasting peace.
He emphasized the significance of civil-military relations, urging security forces to act with professionalism, steer clear of corruption, and reject political influence that might jeopardize their duties.
"The sole action we need to take is to identify the adversaries and eliminate them," he stated, cautioning that financial interests and political influences might jeopardize the progress achieved against violent organizations.
Musa also commended the media for its contribution to influencing how the public views military actions.
"If your perception is incorrect, everything you do will be seen as wrong. Therefore, the media plays a vital role," he stated.
He expressed gratitude to reporters for what he termed "ongoing, positive reporting" on the military's efforts against terrorism and insurgency, encouraging them to keep informing Nigerians about the goals and advancements of the operations.
The CDS instructed attendees of Exercise Haske Biyu to transform the training's teachings into tangible outcomes within their units.
He stated, "This training should not stop here. It needs to be focused on finding solutions. The continuous effort to track down offenders through collaboration with our neighbors, local communities, and the media is the most reliable path to achieving long-term peace."
Previously, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Alhaji, mentioned that Haske Biyu 2025 was the biggest exercise conducted by the institution in recent times.
He stated that the theme, Family and National Security, was intentionally selected to link social unity with national defense.
He believes that unstable family systems and broken communities create an environment conducive to extremism and crime, which then contribute to a rise in insecurity.
"Security goes beyond weapons and uniforms. When families break down and communities fall apart, criminal groups take advantage of the situation," the Commandant stated.
He encouraged the attendees to implement the knowledge gained from the exercise through community-oriented initiatives once they go back to their respective groups.
This appeal was made in the context of rebellion, terrorism, and piracy, which are referred to as "significant dangers not only for Nigeria but for the whole Sahel region."
The CDS is detailing the present strategic emphasis and required operational change for Nigerian security agencies.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Posting Komentar