From Victor Osula, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved air assets to counter insurgents in the country.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, disclosed this to State House correspondents after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
President Tinubu, on Friday, met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; CDS; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, among other security chiefs.
The meeting comes amid a recent upsurge in violent attacks by insurgents in the Northeast.
Noting that additional equipment has been purchased to boost the military’s efforts in the fight against insurgents, Musa said President Tinubu urged further collaboration with neighbouring countries to fight the insurgents.
He said, “Mr President has given a directive as to what to do next for us to intensify all efforts, collaborate with all our sister countries around us, because it is the porous nature from there that is aggravating our own issues on ground.
“And so all our theatres have been enhanced, equipment has been bought, and Mr President has given us much approval for air assets, and other aspects of security and as we said, it is not only the kinetic aspect, the non-kinetic aspect is most important.
“The President is also looking at discussing with governors for their own support by ensuring that dividends of democracy extend to the community to stamp down the issue of insecurity, and we are working together.”
Responding to concerns raised by some state governors, particularly in Borno and Plateau, General Musa stressed the importance of multi-level collaboration involving federal, state, and local governments.
“Just yesterday, I returned from Maiduguri. We’ve been in the North East with ministers and other service chiefs. We’re working with all the governors because we know we can’t do it alone”, he said.
He called on citizens to support the armed forces, remain vigilant, and report suspicious activities, while urging them to disregard misleading content circulating online.
“There’s a lot of fake news out there, old or foreign videos being passed off as the current Nigerian crises. It’s unfortunate that some people celebrate when things go wrong in their own country. We must all work together. If you see something wrong, including misconduct by our personnel, report it; we will act”, he said.
