The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, on Friday called on Nigerians to join in the fight against insecurity as the military could not do it alone.
Mr Musa made the call at his maiden interaction with newsmen in Abuja.
“The security challenge we are facing is not only a military challenge; it is for everybody.
“That is why it is important for us to have a good understanding of what is going on so that we can clearly sensitise the public,’’ he said.
He said cooperation and support for the military and all other security agencies was critical to their successes or failures in the war against insecurity.
“I appeal that when you see something not going right, please report; even if it is our troops that are not doing the right thing, don’t just keep quiet and pass by.
“This is because whatever you see and pass by, you have approved of it.
“If you want changes, report so that we can take action and we want to take action,’’ Musa assured.
He noted that terrorism was always difficult to fight because it was ideology-based, but criminality had been added resulting from pressure exerted on terrorists by the military in the Northeast.
He noted also that good governance was critical to addressing insecurity, stressing that political leaders had a role to play to ensure that issues that promoted insecurity were not allowed to fester.
According to him, military solution is only 30 per cent of the strategy, while 70 per cent is good governance, equity, fairness and justice.
“The issue of policing is everybody’s responsibility. We must have good policing system that ensures that everybody is everybody’s brother.
“We must be our brother’s keepers for us to be able to assist and our correctional system should be correctional.
Earlier, Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said the media had an important role to play in nation building and the role had serious implication on national security.
Mr Gusau said there was the need for the military to partner closely with the media, hence the desire of the Chief of Defence Staff to interface with journalists as critical stakeholders.
According to him, the media is a force multiplier in the efforts of the armed forces to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians.
“Your role is critical and noble; always trying to ensure public support for the military and also boosting the moral of our troops while discharging our Constitutional responsibilities,’’ he said.
NAN
