Nigeria Shall Have Peace Again — Irabor

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured that
the military would enhance its kinetic operations in dealing with
the prevailing security challenges confronting the nation.

Irabor gave the assurance at a One-Day National Defence and
Security Summit with the theme: “Promoting Kinetic Operations as a
major Plank for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency in
Nigeria” on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were committed to
ensuring the return of peace to different parts of the country
being confronted by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other
forms of security challenge.

Irabor said that defence and security were universally
considered as common, but existential values that affect the entire
nation.

He said the summit would seek to discuss how to promote kinetic
operations by leaders and eminent personalities in the Nigerian
society who would contribute their narratives towards addressing
the security challenges.

According to him, it is no longer news that the nation
experiences a wide range of national security threats including
terrorism, insurgency, farmers/herders conflict, ethno-religious
conflicts, kidnapping and banditry.

He said that the threats had posed immediate and present danger
to the corporate existence, sovereignty, territorial integrity,
unity, stability and sustainable development of the nation.
The CDS said that the military had restrategised to implement the
mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, for action to immediately
stabilise the situation.

“Our strategic objectives are manifold and imbued to neutralise
non-state-actors and other agents of violence in our communities,
forests and countryside to stabilise the security situation across
the nation, to facilitate law and order; and lastly to provide the
enabling environment far peace and development.

“These presuppose that the military would need support from
other security agencies during the operations and would be required
to give support to others at different stages of the internal
security effort.

“On behalf of the officers and men/women of the armed forces, I
pledge our unalloyed loyalty to C-in-C and the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The mandate shall be delivered; fear and despair shall be
extinguished from our land. Nigeria will have peace again,” he
said.

Irabor said that the use of military force, particularly in the
homeland, had been the most fiercely debated topic in public
discourse, adding that people often took extreme and sometimes
diametrically opposed positions.

According to him, it is important, therefore, that the kinetic
efforts enjoy the understanding and sustained support of
stakeholders, key players, the public and other significant
stakeholders.

He said that the specific objectives of the Summit were to
create functional awareness of the rationale for the kinetic
efforts, promote buy-in and support of critical stakeholders and
the polity.
He said that it was also to promote viable Civil Military Relations
(CMR) structures in support of the kinetic effort.

He said that the summit was also expected to promote possible
deterrence from violent non-state actors, facilitate strategic
communications and promote a cohesive information strategy on the
kinetic approach.

According to him, the summit also seek to promote resource
support for the kinetic approach, create awareness of the
imperatives for past kinetic action, consolidate security and
lastly consider other relevant measures to sustain security and
stabilise the polity.

“The Summit is designed to quicken, support and consolidate the
kinetic effort.

“I, therefore, appeal to all participants to speak freely and
candidly in the national security interest,” he said.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured that
the military would enhance its kinetic operations in dealing with
the prevailing security challenges confronting the nation.

Irabor gave the assurance at a One-Day National Defence and
Security Summit with the theme: “Promoting Kinetic Operations as a
major Plank for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency in
Nigeria” on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were committed to
ensuring the return of peace to different parts of the country
being confronted by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other
forms of security challenge.

Irabor said that defence and security were universally
considered as common, but existential values that affect the entire
nation.

He said the summit would seek to discuss how to promote kinetic
operations by leaders and eminent personalities in the Nigerian
society who would contribute their narratives towards addressing
the security challenges.

According to him, it is no longer news that the nation
experiences a wide range of national security threats including
terrorism, insurgency, farmers/herders conflict, ethno-religious
conflicts, kidnapping and banditry.

He said that the threats had posed immediate and present danger
to the corporate existence, sovereignty, territorial integrity,
unity, stability and sustainable development of the nation.
The CDS said that the military had restrategised to implement the
mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, for action to immediately
stabilise the situation.

“Our strategic objectives are manifold and imbued to neutralise
non-state-actors and other agents of violence in our communities,
forests and countryside to stabilise the security situation across
the nation, to facilitate law and order; and lastly to provide the
enabling environment far peace and development.

“These presuppose that the military would need support from
other security agencies during the operations and would be required
to give support to others at different stages of the internal
security effort.

“On behalf of the officers and men/women of the armed forces, I
pledge our unalloyed loyalty to C-in-C and the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The mandate shall be delivered; fear and despair shall be
extinguished from our land. Nigeria will have peace again,” he
said.

Irabor said that the use of military force, particularly in the
homeland, had been the most fiercely debated topic in public
discourse, adding that people often took extreme and sometimes
diametrically opposed positions.

According to him, it is important, therefore, that the kinetic
efforts enjoy the understanding and sustained support of
stakeholders, key players, the public and other significant
stakeholders.

He said that the specific objectives of the Summit were to
create functional awareness of the rationale for the kinetic
efforts, promote buy-in and support of critical stakeholders and
the polity.
He said that it was also to promote viable Civil Military Relations
(CMR) structures in support of the kinetic effort.

He said that the summit was also expected to promote possible
deterrence from violent non-state actors, facilitate strategic
communications and promote a cohesive information strategy on the
kinetic approach.

According to him, the summit also seek to promote resource
support for the kinetic approach, create awareness of the
imperatives for past kinetic action, consolidate security and
lastly consider other relevant measures to sustain security and
stabilise the polity.

“The Summit is designed to quicken, support and consolidate the
kinetic effort.

“I, therefore, appeal to all participants to speak freely and
candidly in the national security interest,” he said.