Godsgift Onyedinefu
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor has said that there is no local government area in Nigeria under the control of Boko Haram Terrorists.
The CDS stated this at the 21st Century Chronicle Roundtable with the theme “Going for broke: Fighting insecurity in Nigeria “in Abuja on Wednesday.
“There has been the recovery of space, at the peak of insurgency 14 local governments, especially in Borno State were under the control of Boko Haram. Currently, there is none under their control,” Irabor said.
“Equally in Yobe State, almost four local governments were under the control of Boko Haram as well as in Adamawa but currently, Boko Haram is not in control of any local government. We have recovered arms and ammunition, there have been
arrests and the surrender of Boko Haram Terrorists. Right now the narrative is beginning to change,” he further said.
While noting that security is being politicised in the country, Irabor also blamed insecurity in the country on the Libyan crisis which led to the free flow of arms and Nigeria’s porous borders.
The CDS further lamented the over-reliance on imported military hardware and urged that more focus be given to the development of Defence Industrial Corporation to develop local manufacturing of military hardware. He stressed that security must be given priority for the country to achieve any meaningful development.
The CDS, however, supported the call for community policing. “I join those advocating for community policing. Yes, there is a community policing framework currently but it has to be escalated. The Nigeria Police Force is already working on this to see how they could boost community policing mechanisms beyond what it is right now” he said.
Also speaking, former Director Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade (Rtd), said it takes a lot of time to produce a soldier, airman or seaman.
He noted that Nigeria did not recruit when it should during stability but rather retired several soldiers due to a paucity of funds.
In her remarks, Dr Mairo Mandara was alarmed that the Civilian Joint Task Force CJTF will pose a greater threat if just allowed. She called for social justice to address insurgency which she said was due to social injustice.
According to her, “insurgency cannot be stopped by military operations alone, it is a social disorder due to social injustice.”
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion Senator Kashim Shettima said the economy must accommodate the teeming youths to tame insecurity. He also reiterated the call to regulate social media.