Nigeria winning war against bandits, illegal oil bunkerers — Groups

A coalition of rights groups has commended the Nigerian military for its efforts in combating insecurity, saying that the country is winning the war against bandits and other terrorist groups.

The organisations, under the aegis of the Coalition of Youth Leaders for One Nigeria (COYLON) and The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, for his strategic leadership and coordination of the armed forces.

They noted that, through synergy and close collaboration between the armed forces and other sister agencies, Nigeria is winning the war against Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta, and all forms of terrorist acts against the country.

COYLON’s National President, Isaac Owoicho, in a statement on Friday, said the military has made significant progress in tackling insurgency and insecurity while MOSIEND’s President, Kennedy Tonjo West, noted that the country’s security architecture has improved substantially under General Musa’s leadership.

The rights groups attributed the successes to improved cooperation and synergy among the military, police, and other security agencies, as well as, the support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

They noted that 19 months into the administration of President Tinubu, he is still forging ahead regardless of scathing criticisms. He added that the present administration has made many significant incursions into various areas, but one specific area critics have not been able to fault is security.

The groups noted that the President’s knack for choosing competent individuals for top-notch positions, such as service chiefs and the National Security Advisor (NSA), has not been riddled with criticism.

They said: “There is no doubt that, in appraising the transformation the armed forces of Nigeria have undergone in the last year under the leadership of General Musa, one could easily conclude that though the country was bedevilled by serious security challenges before the advent of the Tinubu administration, the vigour and renewed strategies adopted by the CDS and his team have indeed brought some succour to a majority of Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike.

“The level of cooperation and collaboration with other security agencies, such as the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), has clearly shown the ability of the Defence Chief to ensure good synergy among all these organs, earning the admiration of many sceptics.

“When you look at the efforts brought in by the CDS to enhance the nation’s borders in collaboration with the NIS and the NCS to prevent the infiltration of criminal elements and the smuggling of illicit goods, including arms and ammunition, it is clear that this is a man who knows his craft.

“General Musa has also served as a motivation to the personnel by exposing them to good training, modern-day equipment, and improved living conditions for both serving officers and those who have lost their lives while defending their fatherland.

“These initiatives have indeed boosted morale and fostered more dedication and pride within the armed forces of Nigeria.

“Although there are still some challenges facing the armed forces, one can still conclude that there is hope on the horizon, as this General from Zangon Kataf, in Kaduna State, is steadily and progressively engaging in an onslaught against the forces of darkness that have terrorised Nigerians and foreigners alike for many years.”