Insecurity: Buhari Emphasises Need For Military Synergy To End War

… Meets New COAS, Offers Tips To Success

President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised the need for synergy
among the three services of the armed forces in the country, for
the ongoing war on insecurity to be won.

Buhari made the emphasis on Monday when he received the new
Chief of Army Staff, Major Farouk Yahaya, who was in the
Presidential Villa with the Minister of Defense, Major-General
Bashir Magashi (rtd.), on an introduction visit.

Relating part of the conversation between the President and the
new Chief of Army Staff in an interview with NTA after the meeting,
Magashi said President Buhari also learnt new tips on how to win
the protracted war on insecurity in the country.

According to him, President Buhari made sure he pointed out to
Yahaya that the nation’s security has been under serious pressure,
but he (Magashi), on his part assured Nigerians that a lot is about
to change with security operations in the country.

“He told him that there’s a lot of pressure on security and
being an actor, at one point or the other has given us a direction
in which we can learn from his experiences and apply them to our
modern operations and I think we have taken the advice
seriously.

“The issue of synergy among the security forces was also
stressed and I’m sure there will be a lot of changes as regards to
the security operations in this country.

“The President received us, offered some advice on how we can go
about doing this operation and the entire security of the country.
We assured him that we will do our best to bring an end to the
problem of insecurity in this country.

“He’s very happy; he thanked Mr. President for giving him the
opportunity to serve as the Chief of Army Staff and promised that
he will bring all his experiences to bear in collaboration with his
colleagues; Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, to be
able to do this country proud.

“The President really has confidence in the new set of people
that he has appointed. We wish them the best of luck,” Magahsi
said.

Asked about what the armed forces are doing to restore peace to
the Northwest region, Magashi pointed out that the armed forces
have just been rendering a supporting role to the police, which is
constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of keeping civil
peace.

He said the main concern of the forces is the terror activities
mutating in the Northeast, categorically noting the growing concern
with the activities of the Islamic State West African Province
(ISWAP).

“In the Northwestern part of the country, you know that the more
concern we have is the insecurity of banditry, kidnapping, and
other criminalities. We are taking the challenge, but you know,
really, this is the constitutional responsibility of the police, we
are only an aid to the police and we are giving maximum cooperation
to the police in order to see an end to this banditry and
insecurity in the Northwest, otherwise, I think it’s quite
different from the Northeast.

“In the Northeast, it is Boko Haram issue and we’re up and doing
to ensure that we bring an end to this Boko Haram issue, especially
with this development of ISWAP,” he said.

… Meets New COAS, Offers Tips To Success

President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised the need for synergy
among the three services of the armed forces in the country, for
the ongoing war on insecurity to be won.

Buhari made the emphasis on Monday when he received the new
Chief of Army Staff, Major Farouk Yahaya, who was in the
Presidential Villa with the Minister of Defense, Major-General
Bashir Magashi (rtd.), on an introduction visit.

Relating part of the conversation between the President and the
new Chief of Army Staff in an interview with NTA after the meeting,
Magashi said President Buhari also learnt new tips on how to win
the protracted war on insecurity in the country.

According to him, President Buhari made sure he pointed out to
Yahaya that the nation’s security has been under serious pressure,
but he (Magashi), on his part assured Nigerians that a lot is about
to change with security operations in the country.

“He told him that there’s a lot of pressure on security and
being an actor, at one point or the other has given us a direction
in which we can learn from his experiences and apply them to our
modern operations and I think we have taken the advice
seriously.

“The issue of synergy among the security forces was also
stressed and I’m sure there will be a lot of changes as regards to
the security operations in this country.

“The President received us, offered some advice on how we can go
about doing this operation and the entire security of the country.
We assured him that we will do our best to bring an end to the
problem of insecurity in this country.

“He’s very happy; he thanked Mr. President for giving him the
opportunity to serve as the Chief of Army Staff and promised that
he will bring all his experiences to bear in collaboration with his
colleagues; Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, to be
able to do this country proud.

“The President really has confidence in the new set of people
that he has appointed. We wish them the best of luck,” Magahsi
said.

Asked about what the armed forces are doing to restore peace to
the Northwest region, Magashi pointed out that the armed forces
have just been rendering a supporting role to the police, which is
constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of keeping civil
peace.

He said the main concern of the forces is the terror activities
mutating in the Northeast, categorically noting the growing concern
with the activities of the Islamic State West African Province
(ISWAP).

“In the Northwestern part of the country, you know that the more
concern we have is the insecurity of banditry, kidnapping, and
other criminalities. We are taking the challenge, but you know,
really, this is the constitutional responsibility of the police, we
are only an aid to the police and we are giving maximum cooperation
to the police in order to see an end to this banditry and
insecurity in the Northwest, otherwise, I think it’s quite
different from the Northeast.

“In the Northeast, it is Boko Haram issue and we’re up and doing
to ensure that we bring an end to this Boko Haram issue, especially
with this development of ISWAP,” he said.