Security
GOVERNOR Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa has urged Nigerians to support the Nigerian Army in its bid to end insecurity, maintain peace and stability in the country.
Badaru made the call when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai paid him a visit after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Army Barrack Phase I at Yar-Garba, a suburb of Dutse.
He noted that Nigerians should appreciate the Army for the selfless service and sacrifices leading to the successes recorded in various operations designed to address security challenges and restore peace in parts of the country.
Badaru said: “If we start blaming, blame games for politics or something else it looks as if we have forgotten where we come from.
“For us in Jigawa; we have appreciated massively the efforts of Nigerian Army in providing security in the country, given the circumstances in which the service is.
“We appreciate you and we will continue to pray for Allah’s guidance because we knew we have achieved a lot in the area of the war against Boko Haram if we would be fair and objective in our judgment.”
He recalled that the Boko Haram insurgency had caused immeasurable damage and loss of lives in the past seven years across the north.
“For some of us who are active and moving around seven years back, we knew what Boko Haram has done to all our businesses, to all our lives.
“We all have clear memory for being afraid to go to markets for fear of being bombed. Remember those days when we hardly go to the mosque or gathered because of the fear of being bombed.
“That is from Maiduguri, Borno down to Abuja and from Sokoto down to Abuja.
“We remember those days that we have to spent hours in getting to a destination because of the regular checkpoints and being terrified even at the checkpoints not to be bored as you are waiting to be screened and pass.
“That memory we still remembered and looking at the situation now, we see very drastic change much less of talking about so many local governments liberated from the control of Boko Haram insurgents,” he said.
Badaru lauded the Army for the establishment of a Military Barrack and Command Secondary School in the state as well as an effective response to farmers/ pastoralists clash in Guri and Hadejia Local Government Areas.
While commending Buratai for the projects, Baduru pledged state government” support to the Army to enable it to address security challenges in the country.
Also speaking, Buratai said that he was on an operational tour of units and formations under the 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, noting that the 3 Brigade falls within the Area of Responsibility of the division.
Buratai said that the state government had requested for the establishment of the Barracks in 2016, and the project was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He explained that the project came at a time when the Nigerian Army was in the process of reviewing its order of battle and the military authorities planned to set up a unit in Jigawa State.
“We have already commenced the construction of the barrack and it is our intention to continue with the project so that the Battalion that will be coming here would be fully accommodated.
“You know the strategic location of the Jigawa State in terms of the counter-insurgency operations in the North East, Jigawa State is one of the frontline states and it forms a buffer or sort of blocking position which our troops have been operating here to prevent the insurgents from spreading to other parts of the country.
“A lot of operations have taken place in the past in terms of insurgency and so many arrests have been made in some towns here in Jigawa State.
“We are happy that people cooperated very well that have made the security situation much suitable. We will continue to do our best to ensure that the country is well secured,” the COAS said.
According to him, the project is still at the initial stage with a few blocks, water, and electricity.
The Army Chief sought state government support in terms of residential and office accommodation and road networks to facilitate the successful completion of the project.
“Together we work closely to ensure that our country is protected from external aggression, internal disruption, and the general insecurity in some parts of the country is curtailed and prevent the occurrence in those areas that are relatively peaceful.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Barrack project with the total landmass of nine-kilometer was proposed by Badaru in 2016 during the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference in Dutse. (NAN)
– Aug. 18, 2020 @ 15.45 GMT |
Tags: Badaru urges Nigerians to support military campaign against insecurity
