The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa has stated that the challenge of insecurity in Nigeria cannot be addressed through kinetic efforts alone but requires various other initiatives.
General Musa stated this while speaking at the official launch of the Presidential Community Engagement Peace Initiative and North Central Peace Summit in Jos, Plateau State.
The summit was organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet.
According to General Musa, “If people are happy and well protected, things will go better. If they’re not, there will be a crisis. These are the things we need to understand and appreciate.”
He also emphasised on the need for peace, equity, fairness, and justice, adding that “without these, we cannot have proper deployment.”
The CDS also advocated for stronger border control, including fencing of Nigeria’s border to curb illegal entry and cross border crime, and further advised the political class to take the right decisions and give proper direction, which the armed forces are ready to carry out.
In the same vein, Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Euphraim Usman said the initiative aims to empower communities to take the lead in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, recognising that sustainable peace must be locally owned and locally driven.
According to him, it was also conceived to build bridges of trust between citizens in ensuring that community groups and civil society collaborate to champion grassroots solutions.
Earlier, Dr. Essiet said the event was organised as part of measures to tackle insecurity that has bedeviled the region.
She emphasised on the importance of peace to meaningful development and urged the people from the North-Central to embrace their diversity as a key to national development.
The event was attended by traditional rulers from various parts of the region.
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