The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the mastermind of the gruesome killing of 17 military officers in Delta State will soon be apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.
General Musa gave the assurance in Abuja, while addressing the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson and other Committee members.
The Chief of Defence Staff who applauded the Committee’s support, reiterated the Service’s resolve towards ending the security ravaging the country.
He maintained that the military is doing everything possible to bring an end to the present security situations in the country, adding that the security challenges are a phase in the life of the country which will soon become a thing of the past.
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While soliciting for the cooperation of all Nigerians, General Musa expressed grief over the way the military men who went to Delta for peace keeping were gruesomely murdered.
The Chief of Defence Staff who affirmed that the Military is aware of the kingpin behind the killing in Delta Community, which occurred on Thursday, vowed that the mastermind of the killings will be apprehended soon.
He said: “The situation is an ongoing, it’s an ongoing operation but we won’t want to say much other than we already know the perpetrators. Already we have done it and they’ve run away. We have information where they’ve gone to hide, some people are giving them refuge, some people are giving them support.
“We just want to tell Nigerians that we are following up on every aspect of it. Those guys that committed this heinous crime will not go free, they will be brought to book. We know how to get them, we are going to go after them.
“We want to appeal to anybody who has anything to do with them to desist because even during the investigation we are able to find out that they are assisting them in one way or the other will be part of it. He’s not going to be set free. The days of impunity are over, we are going to do that.
“And to the larger society, Nigerians should be hopeful, the government is doing well and the Armed Forces is doing its best and all the security agencies are working to ensure that we restore peace and security in Nigeria.”
He also assured President Tinubu that the Armed Forces are not sleeping, adding that all the abducted students and others will be freed.
General Musa also maintained that the successful contribution of the Nigerian Army contributed immensely to the improvement in daily oil production.
Speaking earlier, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson who expressed confidence in the capacity of the Chief of Defence Staff to deliver on the Armed Forces mandates, however noted Nigerians are tired of excuses.
While urging the Military to do everything possible to bring to an end the current insecurities in the country, Hon. Benson said: “As you know, the National Assembly’s responsibility for oversight of the executive is an exclusive provision in Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and in the Standing Orders & Rules of the House. This exercise is designed to promote good governance, accountability, and transparency as well as effective service delivery, particularly in the security sector, for Nigerians.
“We recognise this institution’s critical role in protecting our nation’s sovereignty, defending our borders, and promoting peace and stability both domestically and internationally. This is what we owe Nigerians and we look forward to your cooperation.
“Dear CDS, this oversight exercise comes at an auspicious time in the life of our nation, especially in the light of the recent resurgence of school abductions, kidnappings and banditry, especially in the North-East, North-West and North-Central as well as several other security challenges currently prevalent in various parts of the country.
“While we acknowledge the tremendous successes recorded so far through the several theatres of operation across the country, Nigerians are tired of excuses. As representatives of the people, we can tell you authoritatively that they are yearning for definitive results and an end to these myriad of security challenges.
“This Committee realises that these results can only be achieved at a cost – a contemporary, well-equipped, well-trained, well-resourced and adequately motivated Armed Forces. This is why we are here. Therefore, we expect that this interaction will help to address concerns raised by Nigerians whom we represent and the role that the National Assembly can play to support you in addressing them.
“The House Committee on Defence fully backs President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to the Armed Forces of Nigeria to end all forms of insecurity in Nigeria, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. We are confident that the mandate is achievable and must be achieved.
“Our people have suffered untold hardship and emotional pains in the last fifteen years. As their representatives, we feel the impact of this hardship and witness the effect of insecurity on development within our constituencies. We must, therefore, all work together by supporting Mr. President to end the spate of wanton kidnappings, abductions, oil theft and preventable killings.
“The CDS, Honourable colleagues, the National Assembly is fully aware of the huge responsibility placed on the shoulders of our Armed Forces. This is why we have consistently ensured a steady increase in budgetary allocation for the security sector. We are determined to continue to support you through our legislative activities. It is in line with this that we have initiated several innovative legislations, currently at various stages of the legislative process in the House, all designed to strengthen and revolutionise the defence sector.
“For instance, members of this Committee have worked assiduously to pass the Nigerian Armed Forces Support Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, which seeks to create an exclusive five-year funding plan, outside the annual budgetary allocations, for revamping the Nigerian Armed Forces through the provision of regular training for armed forces personnel and modern security and defence equipment for effective defence of Nigeria’s territory and fight against insurgency and other related matters.
“This Committee expects that these oversight exercises will provide us with the required information on the performance of the 2023 budget so far. Furthermore, as the government commences the implementation of the 2024 budget, please note that we shall be conducting thorough scrutiny to ensure that it is implemented as passed by the National Assembly. Nigerians expect better outcomes and will continue to demand a high level of social accountability in the use of all resources allocated to the defence sector.
“The CDS, you will agree that the importance of space and cyberspace military technology to modern warfare cannot be underestimated. Cyberspace has become a critical economic and military tool, therefore, maintaining military cyberspace capability is now an emerging necessity for military operations globally.
“There is, therefore, a need to fully harness the benefits of military space technology by creating a Nigerian Defence Space Force (DSF). This will help harness the value of military space and cyberspace-based capabilities and integrate such into theatre operations across the country.
“A new, independent Space Force will also strengthen the functions of the Defence Space Agency (DSA) in acquiring military space systems, developing a military space power policy, and supporting all operations with space and cyberspace intelligence in the war against insecurity in Nigeria. We believe this will consolidate all space missions from across the Armed Forces into one central operational domain. Consequently, we have commenced legislative processes to enact a law that will enable this.
“According to information available to us, the gallant and brave men and women of the AFN currently have active operations in over 30 States. To achieve effectiveness, it is right to ask if the AFN are stretched too widely and focusing too much on what the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) should be doing. The more the military operates in the civil space, the less empowered and proactive the NPF will be. The nature of the asymmetric fighting we are engaged in has revealed some patterns.
“The CDS, one of these is the bandits and criminals carrying out kidnapping and other crimes in Nigeria and then run to neighbouring countries where any get shelter and unofficial safe havens. The AFN need to renew its focus on surgical operations and collaboration with our neighbouring countries as part of its core mandate so that it can focus less on domestic operations, which the Police should carry out. Except when called upon by the Police for assistance (as the Constitution stipulates), the AFN needs to focus more on protecting the country’s territorial integrity through expanded external deterrence activities to secure the nation.
“Strategically, it is important to equip the Nigerian Police to keep the peace and maintain law and order in places cleared of terrorists by members of the AFN. This synergy is essential to avoid the cycle of taking back communities previously cleared by the AFN but abandoned by law enforcement agencies, thus falling back into enemy hands.
“More support should be given to the NPF by the government to build their capacity to take ownership of and maintain peace in communities cleared of these criminals. This should be done without any reduction to the allocations due to the AFN. Only when all players in our security estate play their constitutional roles effectively can we get a balance of security efforts that will secure peace without overstretching the AFN.
“This brings me to the establishment and training of Three Special Operations Forces Battalions. I am aware that approval has been given for the upgrade of training facilities as well as training of Three Battalions of Special Operations Forces who would be fully equipped to embark on any rescue operation. The House of Representatives is fully in support of the initiative as one of the deliverables of the Asiwaju Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We therefore want to know the status of the training and establishment of the Battalions. In furtherance of our oversight responsibilities, we will also personally visit the training camp in Jaji immediately the training commences. I commend the effort of this local training but foreign experts who are specialists in counterterrorism will further reinforce this. I am also informed that the Jaji training facility is ready.
“CDS, let us make the best use of these Special Operations Forces and not combine them with regular Forces after training. Let’s learn from our mistakes of the past. I personally have a strong conviction that these Special Forces would change the narrative by addressing the contemporary forms of insurgency, banditry, and insecurity in general.
“The House Committee on Defence fully supports the patronage of local manufacturers of military equipment. We therefore encourage the Armed Forces to give preference to local manufacturers, contractors and service providers in its procurement process. This has enormous positive effects on the fight against insecurity and the economy. Similarly, this Committee is keen on ensuring the full implementation of the DICON Act recently assented to by Mr. President. Consequently, we will be interfacing with local manufacturers and DICON in the coming weeks.
“The CDS, our Committee, is very concerned about troop welfare. We believe that those who have chosen to protect our lives and property, as well as the territorial integrity of Nigeria, deserve to be adequately compensated. A well-motivated soldier is a function of adequate welfare, among other things.
“Also, efforts must be made to improve civilian-military relations across all services. Nigerians must continue to trust the military. I believe that developing a reputation for honest and trustworthy information for the media and Nigerians, in general, will also help the AFN build better public support. It is our hope that more focus will be given to the quality of information shared with the public so that the AFN is better reported and represented, especially in the media.
“Before I conclude my speech, on behalf of the committee, I would like to echo the instruction Mr. President gave to the Nigerian military: that they should bring those behind the killing of 13 soldiers and four high-ranking Army officers in Delta State last week to justice. I and the entire committee members commiserate with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the family of the deceased patriots over the death of the soldiers,” Hon. Benson noted.