- Safiu Kehinde
The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has hailed Southwest governors over their collective approach in curtailing insecurity in the region.
Musa commended the togetherness of the governors while addressing the Senate at his ongoing ministerial appointment screening by the red chamber on Wednesday.
The former CDS called for same togetherness between governors in other regions, especially the northern region.
“We must bring them together, working with the state governors particularly.
“Why the Southwest seems to be doing well is because all the governors agreed together. And that is why regionally, governors must come together because two, three are better than one.
“They need to understand that the bandits do not respect border.
“In fact, where they get their strength is the ability to run when you attack them, especially in the Sokoto area, then they enter Niger. And once they get to Niger Republic, you can’t touch them until they come back in.” He said.
Musa harped on the need for the Multinational Joint Task Force in Niger Republic to intensify their effort in securing the border to curtail further incursion of the terrorists into the southwest.
“That is why I said it is important that the Multinational Joint Task Force in Niger Republic will need to build up their capacity to hold up down towards the border with Mali and Burkina Faso because we are beginning to have those incursions into Kwara coming down Southwest and we must stop them not to get further than that.
“I think action has already been put in place. It is for us to harmonise all these firstly to ensure that all the MDAs know they have a role to play.” Musa said.
The ex-CDS and incoming Minister of Defence also called for assessment of Nigeria’s judicial system as well as the revitalisation of the MDAs efficiency.
He also harped on the need to monitor the mining industry which he labelled one of the sources of fund for terrorists’ group.
“And one important aspect is our legal system that we need to look at. Most of our laws look obsolete and because sometimes, justice is delayed, it becomes a problem.
“Once punishment is melted immediately an action is done, it serves as deterrence to others.
“I mentioned that all MDAs need to look at the legal service, the correctional service, the civil defence. Mining activities have to be monitored because that is another source of funding.
“All areas that they are getting their funds from; we must look at those aspects and stop and prevent them. And like you said Sir, the ability to monitor where the funds are going to.
“If we are able to do that holistically using technology, we will achieve so much.” He added.