Defence Headquarters Doing A Lot To End Insecurity – Director Information

*Says public aware of only 70% of military’s efforts in tackling insecurity

*Insists surge of informants to bandits more dangerous

By SULEIMAN ADAMU, Sokoto

The Nigerian Armed Forces has said that it is resilient and not underrating any intelligence information as it strengthens non kinetic approach to operations against banditry and other sundry attacks on communities with public, institutional and professional engagements including the media in the North West as measures towards providing solutions to the menace.

It pointed out that the armed forces would consistently leverage on wider public support, stressing that all operations would be professionally conducted within its mandate without compromise.

The Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General Tukur Ismail Gusau disclosed this on Thursday, during an interactive engagement with the leadership of the the Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at its Zuru Road Secretariat, Sokoto, where he set the ball rolling.

He said that, “We will not allow any attempt to undermine professionalism among our ranks during operations. It will be a gross offence and misconduct which will be liable to court marshal”,

Hitherto, the Sokoto born General said, the renewed approach is to further boost, entrench inclusivity and public engagements, using a responsive non kinetic strategy under the Operation Fansan Yamma ” theatre to tackle security challenges affecting the region, occasioned by its enormity in Zamfara State which has spread across Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Kaduna states.

” This is what informed the added responsive approach which we want Nigerians to consider their own.

” We have to collectively regard and take ownership of the war against banditry as Nigerians, by Nigerians and for Nigeria”, he said, noting that 70% of the solutions are public, while 30% are shouldered by the armed forces .

He explained that it is not a war to be left to the armed forces alone, but Nigerians must also take ownership by usefully supporting all operations with intelligence information.

” Everyone is a stakeholder, including professionals as journalists who are most strategic in driving progress made by the armed forces in the collective war against insecurity,” Gusau noted.

” The armed forces need such synergy to also tame the surge of informants who are worst and more dangerous than bandits in our midst.

” This interaction which we started are yielding some impact, it will encourage and boost the cooperation needed from the public for our strategic operational plans and execution to succeed against the enemies,” he pointed out.

While championing the course of its operations at the defence headquarters, Gusau said, it would also take cognizance and reflect on the basic ideals, values and norms of communities in developing roadmap plans, noting factored differences in the filed of area of operations.