Service chiefs in Ibadan, promise to restore security

Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said the Nigeria Armed Forces is working tirelessly to restore security and end all forms of insecurity facing Nigeria.

He made the promise when he led other service chiefs on a visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Thursday.

Other service chiefs who accompanied Irabor on the visit are Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao; outgoing General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Major General Anthony Omozoje.

Irabor said they were in collaboration with other security agencies to address all issues of insecurity.

While recognising the police as the first tier in internal security, Irabor assured of the constant intervention of the Armed Forces as the need arises.

He said, “The leadership hierarchy of the Nigeria Armed Forces changed very recently and we considered it expedient to go round to see our troops, officers to familiarise ourselves with them and beyond that to equally bring the charge of Mr President to them having being charged to take all measures necessary to address the various security challenges across the country in partnership with other security agencies.

“We have had specific interaction with our troops and we felt it necessary to let you know that we are working assiduously to address all issues that have to do with insecurity, of course, in partnership with other security agencies.

“We know that the military stands ready to give support to the authority and see that cases of insecurity are addressed holistically. We know that the police remains the first tier of internal security and where the police need the intervention of the Army, we stand very ready to give support to the police.”

The service chiefs had earlier visited the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army to interact with and boost the morale of the Nigerian soldiers.

Oyo deputy governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan who received the service chiefs on behalf of Governor Makinde, demanded the Nigerian Armed Forces to deploy more troops to the Oke-Ogun area of the state.

Makinde hinged this appeal on the existence of borders around Oke-Ogun making it vulnerable to security issues.

He said the state government would continue to provide logistics support for security agencies.