Joseph Bakare
Calm is now returning in Kwara and other States following security measures by the Federal Government after bandits made attempts to disrupt peace in some communities in those areas.
The General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife, confirmed that security situation in Kwara and others states within the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) are improving gradually.
The Division’s mandate covers Kwara, Kogi, Edo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and part of Niger.
Nnebeife, while speaking with the Media said that kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges, which were rampant few months ago in the Division’s AOR, were being tackled gradually.
“When I came in August as 2 Division GOC, that was when the problem of kidnapping started in Kwara and the Chief of Army directed me to relocate to Kwara State and I did.
“As the GOC, I slept in the bush with the soldiers to ensure we tackled those security challenges.
“To the glory of God, the security situation in Kwara is now improving and people have been able to go back to their communities while farmers are going back to their farms,” he said.
Nnebeife said that though the security situation might not be 100 per cent perfect, but the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in Nigeria would continue to do their best in the protection of innocent citizens and their property.
The GOC urged the media to be objective and shun negative reportage that portray the Nigerian Army as not doing anything.
According to him, using isolated security challenges to generalise the security situation in the country could affect the country’s image abroad badly.
Nnebeife urged Nigerians to always give credible information to the security agencies in order to assist them in effectively tackling the country’s security challenges, adding that nothing much could be achieved without their support.
Some of the factors contributing to insecurity in Nigeria, he said, included drug addiction, out-of-school children, lost family values, among others