The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has called on Nigerians to play active role in tackling insurgency in the country.
Mr Yahaya made the call during a 3-Day Seminar on the Rehabilitation of Repentant Insurgents in the North East with the theme, ” Rehabilitation of Repentant Insurgents in Nigeria; Issues, Challenges and Sustainability”, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The seminar was organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
He said the workshop was part of national effort to develop viable strategy for the management of surrendered insurgents in the North East.
According to him, the kinetic efforts of the military, especially the Nigerian army, has led to the surrender of over 87,000 terrorists and their families in the region.
He said that all those who surrendered had laid down their arms and embraced peace.
“As we celebrate this achievement, it is important we know that it has its numerous challenges on troops operational activities, logistic support and above all, the morale of those performing their constitutional roles in the region.
“There is also the issue of local populace’s acceptance of the repentant and surrendered terrorists back to their local communities, and also the effect of such mass surrender on the three tiers of government,” he said.
Mr Yahaya said the military, alongside other security agencies had performed creditably well to ensure that the surrounded insurgents were humanely treated.
This, according to him, has been in line with the core values of the military of treating people humanely irrespective of their involvement in criminalities and killings.
He said the responsibility for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the repentant terrorists were far beyond the responsibilities of the army or security agencies.
“Here before us are these challenges staring at us and our strategic allies. Each organization and institution needs to understand the problem at hand.
“The requirement for the management of these surrendered ex-combatants while balancing same with those of the communities and individuals who are victims of their actions.
“Above all, we must understand and be ready, willing and able to perform our different roles for the benefit of the system and mankind,” the COAS said.
Mr Yahaya acknowledged that the task was enormous and not an easy one, as all activities involved must be conducted simultaneously.
He advised terrorists still in the bush to embrace peace, warning that the armed forces remained committed to securing the nation.
NAN
