The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said insurgency will not be defeated militarily but through good governance by winning the minds of the people.
The director Defence Media Operations Major General Edward Buba stated this recently while giving update on troops operations across the country.
He said while the military have eliminated terror leaders and commanders, the government must act by changing the conditions that make the insurgents willing to fight.
He said though troops recorded successes week-in and week-out in the ongoing counter insurgency operations across the country, “the classic principle of counterinsurgency is that you cannot win this kind of war militarily.”
“We have eliminated several terrorists, their leaders and commanders. Troops are continually going after terrorists and dislodging them from their hideouts. In spite of all these, it would appear that there is more to be done to win this war outside the use of military pressure.
“Accordingly, we must now win this war by changing the conditions that make the insurgents willing to fight. We must also win the war by increasing support for government at various levels through heart and mind projects indicative of good governance” he said.
Speaking further, the director stated that the nation was difficult at the moment and urged people “to realise that tough times do not last, but tough people do.” Adding that ‘this too shall pass.’ As the time is ripe for patriotic and well-meaning citizens to contribute alternative ideas on ways to make a difference in turning the situation around.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, speaking at the 34th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), called for a whole-of-society approach to solving the security challenges in the country.
“Nigeria is not insulated from the generic factors and catalogue of threats to security internationally. Again, not only have non-state actors enjoyed more visibility in shaping the security landscape, global trends indicate increasing complexity, ambiguity, volatility and uncertainty in the security environment,” he said.
The CDS Musa identified illiteracy, unemployment, population explosion, porous borders and uncontrolled migration, poor governance and weak laws as the bane of internal threat to security in Nigeria as such everyone should be involved in ensuring security reigns.
The minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle commended the Nigerian Military for killing terror kingpin Boderi Isyaku and his cohorts in Kaduna State.
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