Irabor: Armed Forces Reviewing Operations in Trouble Spots

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor said yesterday that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was reviewing its operational engagements in the various theatres in order to bring peace to the crisis parts of the country.

Gen Irabor stated this at the 6th edition of the CDS security parley with military veterans tagged, “CDS Interactive Session with Retired Senior Military Officers in the South-south Geo-political zone”, held at 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in Asaba, Delta State.

The CDS said the security parley, which was flagged-off in the South-west, was of immense benefit to the Armed Forces, as several topical issues that emanated from all the geo-political zones were being addressed.

This, he said, was guiding the military high command in reviewing its operational doctrines and plans.

According to Gen Irabor, “interaction is a continuous process, so much value has emerged from the interactive session with our retired senior officers, and we are going to leverage the success and benefit to improve on security and safety of lives and properties.”

The defence chief noted that the operational engagements of Delta State, which was in synergy with other internal security arrangement, were impacting on the peculiar security challenges, including illegal oil bunkering, piracy, among others, adding that the security disposition in the South-south region would continue to get better.

He further explained that the security parley would focus on engaging critical stakeholders such as royal fathers, some of whom were equally retired senior officers and among the participants. They are expected to take some lessons arising from the interaction to sensitise their subjects.

The CDS assured that the Armed Forces would continue to foster the right ambience for other stakeholders in order to holistically combat the numerous security challenges in the region.

According to him, “there are other engagements that are holding behind the scene, as we have assessed that kinetic efforts is only a part of the solution, there are non-kinetic approach which forms part of the engagement that is focused on the holistic solutions to the challenges in the Niger Delta region.”

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCIMIC), Rear Admiral Fredrick Ogu, said as stakeholders in the defence and security sector, the retired senior officers were in a vintage position to understand the array of security issues in their domain.

Ogu added that they could offer professional counsel on likely strategies to adopt in tackling the security threats.

He further disclosed that myriad of security issues in the nation and those specific to each geo-political zone were x-rayed while adding that the outcome of the engagements with the veterans was rewarding.

A statement by Defence Headquarters said he listed the heightened insecurity in the South-south zone as attacks on local communities, piracy, militia attacks, cultism, oil theft, vandalising of critical national assets, sabotage, high sea robbery, kidnapping and other sundry crimes.

Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Sani Mohammed, lauded the initiative by the CDS in mooting the idea where senior serving and retired military officers were able to gather to brainstorm on a collective approach towards enhancing operational performance of the military in the South-south region.

Prominent among the participants were the former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (rtd) and the former CDS, Gen Alexander Ogomudia (rtd).

The royal fathers who were in attendance included: His Royal Highness (HRH), Maj Gen Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), HRH Air Vice Marshal Lucky Ararile (rtd) and HRH Brig Gen Bright Fiboinumama (rtd).

The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj Gen Samuel Adebayo, Director General-Defence Research and Development Bureau, AVM Peter Uzezi, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulam, FOC Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Sileranda Lassa and the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, AVM Ali Bello were among the top military brass that graced the security parley.

The major activities that took place during the closed door sessions at the one-day parley in all the six geo-political zones was the CDI’s brief on the general security threats being experienced in each of the zone.

A group/syndicates’ presentations on the assigned thematic areas were delivered by the retired senior officers, while the “A” Team Unique Professional Limited, a Consultant to Defence Headquarters and facilitators of the CDS security parley, anchored the interactive sessions.