A Civil Society Organisation, Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development (CCSPSND) has lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, for his courage and the determination he has put in the war against insurgency, banditry and other crimes in the country since assumption of office.
The CSO in a press statement jointly signed by its Conveners, Dr. Adamu Muhammad and Hon. Mike Msuaan and made available to journalists in Abuja, expressed satisfaction over the energy and motivation Lagbaja had brought to bear in the fight against criminal elements in the country, describing him as a commander who leads in the front.
According to the CSO, “Under the watch of the current chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the criminal activities of the infamous Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the south east have been brought to an end.
“The sit-at-home declared by the proscribed group has been stopped through the heightened activities of operation Udoka, in collaboration with other stakeholders in the region. This has reopened the region to economic activities and restored normalcy in the region”.
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Daily Trust recalls that IPOB and ESN had declared a sit-at-home in the region, forcing citizens to remain indoors every Monday.
This led to killings and destruction of lives and property of citizens who flouted the order of the renegade group.
The statement further noted the reduction in the activities of insurgents and bandits in the North east and west and the farmers and herders’ attacks in the North Central, maintaining that it was made possible by the expertise and motivation of the soldiers by the chief of Army Staff.
“Soldiers have renewed their onslaught on Boko Haram /ISWAP, leading to the killing of several kingpins, destruction of camps and arrest of many members of the insurgent groups in the regions.
“The clashes between the herders and farmers in the North Central states of Benue, Nassarawa and Plateau have reduced drastically due to the activities of the military”, the statement said.
The group urged the Army Chief to sustain the crackdown on criminal groups in the country, stating that peace, unity and development cannot be achieved in an environment laced with insecurity.
