Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd), has urged the military top brass to put an end to banditry and senseless killings plaguing Nigeria. He made this call on Tuesday in Abuja during the presentation of a book titled ‘Big Boots: Lessons From My Military Service’, authored by Maj. Gen. Solomon Udounwa (retd).
Address to Serving and Retired Military Officers
Gen. Danjuma, an octogenarian, addressed serving and retired military top brass, including the current Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, emphasizing the responsibility lies with serving officers to end the menace. He stated, “We must end the banditry and the killings that are going on in our country as soon as possible. The responsibilities are on your shoulders; those of you who are still servicing. No excuses, absolutely no excuses. God bless you. God bless our country.”
Defence Chief’s Response
In response, Gen. Musa assured Gen. Danjuma that the Armed Forces would not be deterred by challenges and would bring the perpetrators to justice. He said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria is willing, dedicated, and committed to ensuring that we restore peace and security in our own dear country. We shall not be deterred. I want to assure you that we have learned so much from your records. We cannot afford to fail and we will not fail.”
Banditry and Kidnappings in Nigeria
Nigeria’s North-West and North Central zones have been severely affected by banditry, with recent reports indicating:
– 7,568 people abducted in 1,130 incidents across the country.
– Nigerians paid ₦1.04 billion as ransom to kidnappers in the last year.
– Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina have the highest numbers of incidents and victims.
– On average, someone is killed each time there is an attempted kidnap.
SECURITY CHALLENGES
– Banditry and terrorism continue to threaten Nigeria’s security.
– Military faces challenges in combating these threats.
CALL TO ACTION
– Gen. Danjuma’s call to action emphasizes the need for urgent action.
– Military leaders must prioritize ending banditry and killings.
WAY FORWARD
– Increased cooperation between military and law enforcement agencies.
– Enhanced intelligence gathering and strategic operations.
– Addressing root causes of banditry and terrorism.
The event highlighted the gravity of Nigeria’s security situation and the need for collective action to restore peace and stability.
