The United Nations has pledged to build the capacity of Nigeria’s military to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorists offences in its ongoing counter terrorism campaign.
The under secretary-general , United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov made the pledge yesterday when he visited the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja.
He commended Nigeria military’s counter terrorism campaign and assured of commitment to deepening partnership for global peace.
“We look forward to further deepening our partnership with the Nigerian Army, and the need for increased multilateral collaboration to support Africa in addressing an evolving terrorism threat on the continent.
“And to formalise the existing cooperation in preventing and countering terrorism we will build Nigeria’s capacities to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute terrorist offences by collecting and analysing them,” he said.
In his remarks, General Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army is poised and ready to work with critical stakeholders especially the United Nations.
He reiterated that the NA is always open to work with UN to combat terrorism.
He said combatting terrorism is both an offensive and constructive approach, adding that the players in the field are multifaceted.
“We are fighting against terrorists in the North East and presently we are engaged against banditry in the North West who have employed some of the tactics of the terrorists such as the use of improvised explosive devices to instill fear in the minds of law-abiding citizens.
“The Nigerian Army is not only focusing on the offensive approach, we know that no matter how long we conduct our kinetic operations, we need to bring in the non-kinetic approach to bear in order to have a stable environment. The Nigerian Army through our efforts over the years has brought repentant terrorists to our holding facilities. We are looking forward to the support of the UN and even other organs of the UN on the disarmament, demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme,” he said.
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