…Says bandits use explosive devices for operations
The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has sought help from the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism, to tackle increasing threats in the country as he said bandits have morphed their methodology and now use explosive devices in their operations.
Lagbaja made this known on Thursday, when he received the Under Secretary-General, United Nations (UN) Office for Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, in his office in Abuja.
The COAS, who expressed the willingness of the military to partner with the UN said that bandits now use improvised explosive devices like the terrorists groups.
He said, We are open to working with the UN. Combating terrorism requires both an offensive and constructive approach. The Nigerian Army has been engaged in the fight against terror in the North-East; and presently, we are engaged in banditry who have employed some of the tactics of the terrorists such as the use of improvised explosive devices to instill fear in the minds of law-abiding citizens.
“We are poised and ready to cooperate with critical partners, especially the UN office for counter-terrorism”, he further stated.
Lagbaja further sought the support of the UN on the de-radicalisation programme for the repentant terrorists, who over the years have dwelled in its holding facilities.
