Nigerian Army: We’ll Keep Exterminating Those Posing Threat to National Security

•Security situation horrendous, unacceptable, says George

Segun James in Lagos and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Nigerian Army, yesterday, vowed to continue to exterminate any individual or group of individuals who pose threat to the national security of the country.

Also, former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has said the security situation in the country was horrendous and horrible, urging President Bola Tinubu to a meeting of Nigerian elders, especially past military leaders to save the country from total collapse.

General Officer Commanding 2nd Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army with headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, Major General Bamidele  Alabi, spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State while declaring open the 31st Social Media Influencers  seminar with the theme, “Emerging Trends on Social Media: Impact on National Security.”

He said the development  would go a long way to sustain the current efforts of the Nigerian armed forces to maintain peace and harmony for the nation’s civil and territorial protection of the country.

The seminar was organised by the Civil Military Affairs, Nigerian Army headquarters, Abuja. About 1000 social media Influencers, bloggers  and media  practitioners and youths  attended the seminar.

Alabi  added that, “The Nigerian Army is presently operating in conjunction with other security agencies and stakeholders in 2nd Army division  including Kwara State to ensure peace and security within a joint environment.

“This is in line with the Chief of Army Command Staff’s philosophy ‘to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.”

The GOC, however, said,”The NA recognises the importance of bloggers and influencers of the social media as credible partners in shaping narratives towards enhancing national security. This underlines the constant effort of the NA in organising programmes like this to interact with all stakeholders.

“Therefore, this edition of the seminar with the theme: “Emerging Trends on Social Media: Impact on National Security” is indeed timely and apt in the face of a volatile, unpredictable, dynamic and fluid security environment.

 Also speaking, the  Chief of Civil Military Affairs (Army), Major NC Ugbo said, “security is a collective responsibility of all of us, therefore the Nigerian Army cannot do it alone.

“We all have a very important role to play in the promotion of peace and security in our dear country.”

On his part, George who said he was not speaking as a member of the PDP but as a statesman, lamented that the country was on a precipice and that if nothing was done immediately, the nation might collapse irritably.

Speaking at an interactive session with newsmen in his office at Ikoyi, Lagos, he said the establishment of state police has become urgent, saying the current system where command centre is located in Abuja could no longer work.

“Mr. Tinubu must not shy away from state police. He must go and get the report of the report of the constitutional conference (2014). The constitution is also part of the obstacle that is recklessly disturbing the growth of the country.

“Right now we are on the precipice of total collapse. We are failing. The report of the constitutional conference was dropped to the archive. The effect of putting it in the archive is what we are experiencing now.

“The President must invite all those elders in the military to come because security is now a national calamity. This invite is very, very urgent. It is the collectivity of all hands that can resolve the issue. You would now have all those elders to share their experiences.”