’Army reviewing operational tactics’
The Nigerian Army says non-state actors in the Northwest now engage in illegal mining.
It added that their entry into the sector and the fluidity of their previous activities like kidnapping, cattle rustling, and killing were compounding security challenges in the geo-political zone.
To keep ahead of the terrorists/ bandits and other non-state actors, the Army vowed to continue a review of its tactics in all parts of the country where its men and officers are working hard to flush them out.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said this at the opening of a three-day Retreat for Past and Present Commanders of Nigerian Army Operations in Northwest yesterday.
The retreat with the theme, “Reappraising the Nigerian Army’s Approach to Tackling Insecurity in the North West,” was held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja.
Lt-Gen. Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Operations, Maj.-Gen. Benson Sinjen, said the activities of the non-state actors have continued to impact the security environment across the country, despite unrelenting efforts by the Army and other security agencies.
He said: “The current security challenges the nation is facing are volatile, complex, and fluid and vary from one zone to another.
‘’In the Northwest, the security situation is made complex and persistent by activities of non-state actors who engage in banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, illegal mining, and violent attacks, leading to the destruction of life and means of livelihood.
“The activities of these non-state actors have continued to impact the security environment in the Northwest and by extension in our country despite efforts to curb the trend by the Nigerian army, sister services, and other government departments and agencies.”
The COAS that“surmounting insecurity in the Northwest needs a periodic review of the situation, which will allow us to truly understand the generality and specifics for seamless planning and execution of operations.
“The threats are always fluid and evolving, thus requiring us to quickly adapt, for us to be at least a step ahead of the adversary.’’
Lagbaja said the retreat would provide an opportunity for operational and tactical level commanders to step away from their normal routines in the field and theatres of operations.
This, he said would also review their past and present performances with a view to reinvigorating future operations.
He added that the retreat would allow time for introspection, which will not only stimulate new perspectives and creative thinking but also facilitate problem-solving.
“It will also provide a veritable opportunity for reviewing our efforts at appropriate levels and boosting troops’ morale.
“The retreat will also give impetus to operational efficiency in the pursuit of the pillars of Nigerian Army Mission Statement and my Command Philosophy,” he said.
Lagbaja thanked President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support to the army, pledging to execute his priority of securing the nation within the shortest time possible.
He commended troops for their perseverance, patriotism, and sacrifice.
NARC Director-General Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab(rtd), said that any operation that lasts beyond six months was subject to a review or after-action review.
He noted that the Northwest operation had lasted for years.
Wahab suggested that past and present commanders of the operations should come together to proffer profound solutions to the issue of operations, administration, logistics, and intelligence collaboration.
He said that the centre believed that bringing the commanders together would assist in getting new ideas for creating an enabling environment in the Northwest.
The NARC boss added that the military cannot solve the problems in the zone completely, but should provide an enabling environment for other activities to take place.
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