In the face of growing insecurity across the country, occasioned by kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and separatist agitations, some prominent civil society organisations (CSOs), and a security consulting organisation have cautioned the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor and other Service Chiefs against using false narratives on the insecurity ravaging the nation.
The groups advice came in reaction to last weeks claim by a CSO, National Coalition of Concerned Citizens on Peace and Security, that the nations security situation had greatly improved, even as it thanked the military high command for restoring peace in the country.
But specifically, the patriotic, non-profit organisation and the security consulting group maintained that contrary to what the paid, inconsequential and non-existent CSO would want people to believe, insecurity is still rife in the country, and that the minimum requirement is for the military and other security agencies to up their game, as that will naturally engender public confidence.
The two prominent groups, operating under the aegis of Southern Kaduna Peace Practitioners (SOKIPEP), and the Conference of Security Consultants in Nigeria, identified the re-jigging of defence and security strategies as the launch-pad to securing maximum citizens support.
In an issued joint statement at the weekend, signed by the SOKIPEP National Coordinator, Rev. Dauda Fadia, and the National Coordinator of the Conference of Security Consultants in Nigeria, Prof. Hassan Ibrahim Daura, respectively, the groups wondered why Nigerians should believe the so-called victory narrative pushed through cash-and-carry groups when some territories in the North-East and North-West have remained in the grip of enemies of the State.
This was as they further expressed worries that the 2023 general elections may be imperilled if the security situation in the country does not improve in the coming weeks and months.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating a noticeable commitment to a secure and peaceful Nigeria, the groups advised the Commander-in-Chief to, as a matter of urgent national priority, sack all the Service Chiefs, to pave the way for a re-structured and re-organised defence/security architecture.
They insisted that such was the only way out of the present conundrum confronting the Nigerian State.
