The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has decried the rising cases of insecurity in the North West region of the country, News About Nigeria reports.
While speaking at the opening of a three-day retreat for retired and serving commanders in the Northwest, held in Abuja on Monday, he noted that the insecurity bedevilling the region is being made worse by criminal elements involved in illegal mining, banditry, and cattle rustling, among others.
He added that their continuous activities had led to the destruction of life and means of livelihood.
Lagbaja, who was represented by the Nigerian Army Chief of Operations, Major General Benson Sijen, also stated that despite the Army’s efforts to curb their activities, they continue to impact the Northwest and the country as a whole.
According to him, the army must review the situation and ensure they are ahead of the criminals if the region will be rid of insecurity.
“The current security challenges the nation is facing are volatile, complex, and fluid and vary from one zone to another. In the Northwest, the security situation is made complex and persistent by activities of non-state actors who engage in banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, illegal mining, and violent attacks leading to the destruction of life and means of livelihoods.
“The activities of these non-state actors have continued to impact the security environment in the Northwest region and, by extension, in our country despite efforts to curb the trend by the Nigerian army, sister services, and other government departments and agencies.”
“Surmounting insecurity in the North West region needs a periodic review of the situation, which in turn will allow us to truly understand the generality and specifics for seamless planning and executing of operations. The threats, as I mentioned, are always fluid and evolving, thus requiring us to quickly adapt, for us to be at least a step ahead of the adversary. This retreat has provided a unique opportunity for us to review the situation in the North West by brainstorming for the next three days to arrive at potent solutions,” he stated.
