From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has called on the newly appointed Service Chiefs to allow for constructive criticisms and work with civilian in the North East in order to defeat Boko Haram
He also advised them to aggressively collaborate with militaries of neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger to smoke out Boko Haram terrorist group from the country.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor, who led chief of army staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Naval staff, Rear Admiral Zubairu Gambo and Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, to a strategic meeting with top military hierarchy in Borno State, later led them to courtesy calls on Borno State Governor and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kanemi.
Zulum, while addressing them at the Borno State Government House Chamber, said there was need for aggressive collaboration with armed forces in neighboring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.
He also sought enhanced ties between the military and civilian population to bridge trust deficit and increase military’s access to credible intelligence gathering which he said, was key to success in the fight against insurgency.
He however assured the military chiefs of his administration’s commitment and support to the armed forces by way of supplementing their efforts in the ongoing war.
He equally urged the service chiefs to tolerate fair and constructive criticisms that might be made in good faith to enhance their productivity.
He said: “In democratic settings, the military is an establishment which is subject to constructive criticisms by well meaning citizens. Therefore, you are expected to accept such criticisms in good faith with a view to enhancing the productivity in your operations.”
The governor however noted that, for the Nigerian military to achieve success there should be robust coordination and collaboration between different security operatives, particularly between the Nigerian Army and Airforce.
He called on the military to ensure a continued and sustained operations to deny insurgents breathing space by blocking all routes to avoid terrorist moving from one region to another.
Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky Irabor assured that military operations will receive a boost in order to nip out the insurgents completely.
He however craved the understanding of the civilian population in the fight against terrorism.
On the reason for the visit, he said after they were appointed last week and finishing with the handing over ceremonies just two days ago, “we felt as a collective that our first point of call should be Borno that is because of the cries, the emotion and the passion that have attended to security matters within the North East and indeed Borno viz-a-viz the action of our officers and soldiers we needed to give some focus.”
He added after receiving detailed briefing from the Theatre Commander and the various components commanders. Nigerians will soon see the various injections that would be made to see the end of the terrors visited on the nation by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
