- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Tukur Burutai (Rtd), has recommended the adoption of COVID-19 lockdown approach in tackling terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping in the country.
Burutai made this known while speaking on Channels TV Sunrise Daily programme on Friday.
The ex-military Chief, who warned that allowing insurgency to continue to linger was dangerous for the country, suggested that the country’s borders are placed on lockdown like the COVID-19 era.
He maintained that in the same manner Nigerians were sensitised and mobilised to tackle the pandemic, they should also be mobilised and sensitised in fight against terrorism and banditry.
“If you can remember just before I left office and of course immediately I left office and was appointed as ambassador to the Republic of Benin, I sent a note of warning that this insurgency may last longer.
“It was a sort of warning that we really need a long term plan. It is not something that you just push away. When there are national crises, we need to mobilise everybody, not just the military alone.
“Look at COVID-19, how much was spent, how much was invested into communication, into advertisement, palliatives, and lots of preventive measures. Do much that the whole nation was locked down because of COVID-19.
“We can do the same thing. We can lockdown this country to make sure that everybody concentrate and deal with the cankerworms of so called terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers. It is very important. It is very fundamental.” He said.
Burutai further cited the approach used in curtailing the 2024 Maiduguri flooding.
He called for media engagement and individual support of the military in dealing with insecurity.
“Take for another example, the Maiduguri flood last year. The whole country mobilised and supported the Borno State government and the people of Borno.
“It helped a lot. Same thing came be done to mobilise everybody to the Northeast and Northwest. It can be circulated through social media, Press, and so on. Individuals can support communities.” He added.
The former COAS who served under the administration of late ex-President, Muhammadu Buhari, also harped on the need for community resilience, involving collaboration among political, traditional, and religious leaders to find lasting solution to insecurity.