Babangida Urges Military to Evolve New Counter-insurgency Strategies

Babangida Urges Military to Evolve New Counter-insurgency Strategies

Laleye Dipo in Minna

As terrorists continue to unleash havoc in some parts of the country, the former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) has called on the military to evolve new combat strategies to check the menace.

Babangida made the suggestion in a statement issued yesterday to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, which was made available to journalists in Minna, Niger State.

“It is pertinent for the top echelons of our military to speedily evolve new combat strategy to bravely confront the callous terrorists who have continued to hold many parts of the North-east, and by extension, Nigeria to ransom,” Babangida said.

The armed forces remembrance day will be celebrated today across the country.

“As we prepare to celebrate this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, we should not be oblivious of the fact that our military is presently faced with horrific challenges in the crucial counter-insurgency war, and activities of other blood-thirsty armed groups. To say the least, these ugly circumstances are not only heartrending, but unacceptable”.

The former military president added that time has come for the country to “seek to consolidate our gains and also fortify our combat strength. This is necessary as our army is undeniably a professional military establishment that has over the years achieved remarkable successes in protecting our country’s territorial integrity”.

Babangida paid glowing tributes to “some of our gallant troops who have been incapacitated while at the theatre of war in the restive parts of the country.

“I salute the uncommon bravery of our lion-hearted fallen heroes who paid the supreme price in their quest to defend our fatherland.

“Let me also commend our Armed Forces for their resilience over the years in maintaining peace in Nigeria, United Nations Missions, African Union and regional interventions. I urge all Nigerians to support our military at all times”.

He noted that “the 2019 edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day is coming at a critical period, when teeming Nigerian electorate will go to the polls next month to elect their new leaders at various levels of government.

“In recent times, elections have tested our unity as a people, while also posing threats to our socio-cultural diversity and challenging our common destiny.

“ Nevertheless, I have a strong conviction that our Armed Forces will remain apolitical prior, during, and after the general elections, while focusing only on discharging their constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the country either from the aggression of internal rebels in the guise of Boko Haram insurgents, or from external retrogressive forces”.

Related Articles