Military remains at forefront in tackling insecurity — CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), remains at the forefront in tackling the myriad of security threats confronting the nation.
Irabor stated this at the CDS Interactive Session with Retired Senior Military Officers in the North Central geopolitical zone, on Wednesday in Makurdi, Benue.
The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Irabor said that the one-day security parley was in continuation of the nation-wide consultation and engagements with military veterans towards proffering lasting solutions to the security challenges bedeviling the country.
He said that the wave of insecurity in the zone was occasioned by farmers/herders and communal clashes, adding that the ongoing military engagement required inputs of veterans towards sustainable peace and progress.
The CDS urged the retired senior military officers to be open minded in proffering suggestions to the security threats.
He assured the people of the North Central that there would be interventions in the security dispositions in the zone and the entire nation.
“The military as an institution remains at the forefront of leading the war against every form of criminalities as the constitution avails AFN the mandate of supporting civil authorities which in this case is championed by the Nigeria Police,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCIMIC), Rear Adm. Fredrick Ogu, said the security parley with retired senior military officers across the six geopolitical zones was to identify the threats in terms of its intensity and peculiarities with a view to addressing them.
Ogu disclosed that the maiden edition of the CDS security parley was held in the South West zone, while the second and third editions took place in the North West and South East geopolitical zones.
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command (TAC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Lubo, acknowledged the critical roles being played by military veterans in the defence and security sectors.
Lubo expressed optimism that critical issues bothering on intelligence gathering, information sharing and security management would dominate discussion during the close door session.
The AOC expressed the commitment of the command in sustaining the ongoing synergy with sister services and other security agencies towards ensuring peace and stability in the North Central.
He said that the military had continued to leverage on the support and goodwill of the people in tackling security challenges in the region.
Lubo attributed the recent successes being achieved in various theatres to the collaborative efforts among the various security outfits.
This, according to him, is in line with the CDS leadership focus of fostering a professional armed forces capable of effectively meeting constitutional imperatives.
