The Conference of Civil Society Organisations for Peace, Security and National Development has faulted the call by the National Assembly and other pressure groups for the sack of military chiefs saying they were ill-timed and diversionary.
The CSOs at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday jointly addressed by its conveners, Mike Msuaan and Comrade Adamu Kabir Matazu, stated that the military “deserves support from all strata of society considering the complexity of fighting insurgency.”
According to them, “We were all witnesses to the reaction that greeted the pronouncement by the federal government of plans to withdraw the military from the North-east. The whole nation was unanimous of the need for the military to stay longer in the troubled region. This is a testimony that significant feet have been recorded in the fight against insurgency.
“There is no denying the fact that the criminals seem to be regrouping and restrategising as there has been reports of rise in criminal activities in the North-east in particular leading to loss of several lives and destruction of property. However, the call for the head of security chiefs is not the solution. The least expected of patriotic citizens at the moment is to show solidarity with the military.
“Recently, the governor of Benue state was quoted to have applauded the Army for saving him from bandits who shot at him. The same governor who is noted for criticising the Army in the past recounted the efforts of the Army in returning security to the troubled land and urged the army to stay much longer.”
