The Nigerian Army has said the insecurity challenges ravaging the North West region of the country have continued to manifest because of illegal mining, cattle rustling, and banditry among other nefarious activities engaged in by criminal groups.
It also lamented that despite its efforts to curb the activities of the criminals, they have continued to impact on the region and the country as a whole, adding that their continuous activities have led to the destruction of lives and means of livelihoods.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, stated this at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, on Monday, when he spoke at the opening session of a three-day retreat for retired and serving commanders in the North West.
Lagbaja, who spoke through the Nigerian Army Chief of Operations, Maj.-Gen. Benson Sijen, explained that to get rid of insecurity in the North West region of the country, the army must review the situation and ensure it is ahead of the criminals.
“The current security challenges the nation is facing are volatile, complex and fluid and vary from one zone to another. In the North West, 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 lives and means of livelihoods.
“The activities of these non-state actors have continued to impact the security environment in the North West 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,” the army chief said.
He said holding the three-day retreat was crucial at this time to ensure that the region, which he described as important to food security, was rid of criminal elements.
Earlier, the Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab (rtd), said though the military can’t solve all the problems, it should provide the enabling environment for other political focuses.
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