Banditry can’t thrive without local support, says CDS
As Nigeria continues to grapple with banditry and other forms of security challenges, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa, has said it is impossible for the situation to thrive without the support of locals.
Speaking on Thursday at the official launch of the Presidential Community Engagement Peace Initiative and North Central Peace Summit in Jos, organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Musa emphasised the crucial role of community involvement in combating insecurity.
According to him, bandits rely heavily on local support to operate effectively.
“It’s critical for Nigerians to take ownership of the armed forces to understand that we need your support. We cannot do without this support because the criminals, the terrorists, 6 insurgents are all living within the communities. In the communities today, they said that we will not support these criminals. We will not support these bandits. We will not support these terrorists. They will not survive,” the CDS said
The military officer urged community members to provide timely and accurate information to security agencies to help track down bandits and other criminals.
“A few days ago, I mentioned, how are they getting their fuel? How are they getting their food? It comes from the communities that they are getting all these. The challenges we are facing as military men are that we have members of the public who are also supporting them, giving them information, providing them with their food, and providing fuel and that gives them the opportunity to continue what they are doing.
“So, the military will continue to do its job. We may make mistakes somewhere, but it can never be deliberate, and that is why we have open opportunities. And if any of our men do something that they are not supposed to, we always appeal, please, report to us, we will take action,” he added
The CDS also advocated stronger border control, including the fencing of Nigeria’s border to curb illegal entry and cross-border crime.
Musa also advised the political class to make the right decisions and give the proper direction that the armed forces are ready to carry out.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Euphraim Usman, stressed the need to empower communities to take the lead in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, recognising that sustainable peace must be locally owned and locally driven.
He noted that mistrust and instability were threatening the fabric of Nigerian society and called on the communities to build bridges of trust between citizens in order to foster lasting peace in their domain.
Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Simon Bako, said unless the local government system is supported to operate under the autonomy enshrined in the constitution, its capacity to serve as a first responder to insecurity will remain a mirage.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr Abiodun Essiet, said the event was organised as part of tackling insecurity, which has bedevilled the region.
She urged the people from the North Central to embrace their diversity as a key to national development and insisted there will be no meaningful development without peace.
Source: PUNCH
