By Kenneth Madaki
A civil society organisation (CSO), Northern Alliance for Peace and Security (NAPS), has lauded the sustained successes in ongoing military operations against insecurity in the country.
This is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, by the National President of the alliance, Danladi Abutu.
Abutu also lauded President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the entire Nigerian Armed Forces for the successes recorded thus far.
He noted that the recent rescue of hundreds of abducted persons and the neutralisation of armed criminals reflected the military’s renewed offensive against violent groups operating in different regions of the country.
He also said that the recent gains demonstrated the commitment of the armed forces under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief and CDS to improving security and restoring public confidence.
Abutu cited the rescue of 14 out of the 15 Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) worshipers abducted at a night vigil in Ekiti State on April 28 as one of the recent feat by the military.
He noted the rescue of 416 residents of Ngoshe community in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
He also referenced the rescue of 11 women kidnapped while fishing in Dille community in the Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, saying the rescue operations were assurances and indications of the military’s determination to protect vulnerable communities.
According to him, the gains mirror the commitment of the Nigerian president, the CDS and his men to make Nigeria safe for all.
He stated, “What we have witnessed in the last few weeks is an indication of the battle readiness of our gallant troops to make life difficult for these terrorist elements.
“The security situation is of a huge concern to every well-meaning Nigerian; we must join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that the war against banditry is successfully prosecuted.
“What the Federal Government has done through the gallant troops is a message to the terrorists that they can never win this war.
”They will lose because every Nigerian deserves to live and work in peace everywhere he or she chooses to live in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.”
Abutu appealed to Nigerians to support ongoing security operations by volunteering credible intelligence, saying that community cooperation remained vital to defeating criminal networks.