The senator representing Borno North senatorial district, Muhammed Tahir Munguno has asked the newly confirmed service chiefs to change tactics in tackling terrorism by adopting multifaceted approaches.
The Chief of defence staff, Major General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar all scaled Senate’s Scrutiny on Thursday the 13th of July 2023 when they were confirmed as the new hierarchy of the Nigerian Military.
Speaking on the need for them to act fast, he said no time is most appropriate than now for a change in Nigeria’s tactics against terrorism.
He said the peculiarities of the war against the Nigerian state is one that calls for Kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
“Terrorism is a social problem, it thrives where social control measures are weak, the people must get fully involved in intelligence gathering”
He asked rhetorically what has become of the local force, the Civilian joint military task force that provided the needed local support for the military especially in Borno state?
He urged the service chiefs to resuscitate it, as there is no two ways about it.
“Government at all levels must as a matter of adequste collaboration provide social safety nets particularly employment opportunities for the youth who are usually their targets so at to dissuade them from being lured into these clandestine activities.
“When terrorists are denied or starved of fertile ground for recruitment their existence begins to fizzle out naturally, this can only happen when the citizens are cartered for.
“The Kinetic and None Kinetic approach must be deployed simultaneously, community involvement should be an integral part of this renewed war against insecurity, it has come to a point where the role of traditional and religious leaders must be reviewed and made more effective.”
He said on their part as Lawmakers, the National Assembly has carried out quite a number of interventions to rid Nigeria of the challenging security situation in the country. ‘we have approved series of funds for security agencies since 2019 and in fact made individual sacrifices.
“I as a person have gone beyond my legislative functions to provide succour to a number of families in my District and even beyond, at this juncture Nigeria can not afford to appear helpless against these elements, not any more.
“President Bola Tinubu has made good choices, the National Assembly will continue to engage with the Service Chiefs and ensure a synergistic impact in the fight against insecurity in the Country.”