By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, yesterday pleaded with Nigerians to volunteer credible intelligence that will enable the military to overcome the security challenges bedeviling the country.
He said the Nigerian Army and other security agencies need intelligence from citizens to curtail the heightening.
The Army chief reminded Nigerians that “these criminal elements do not fall from the sky but live in the communities and the community members know the bad eggs amongst them and they can assist the military by giving out information”.
Yahaya spoke at the kick-off of free medical outreach at Berger Camp Mpape, Abuja, in commemoration of Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2021.
He said: “I want to urge you to support us, the Nigerian Army, your Army. What the community can do every time is to give the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the police and all security agencies across the board relevant information that could lead us to squarely address these security challenges that are bedeviling us.
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“These criminals live within us. Sometimes, we know them; we know those who are involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery, or ‘One Chance’, whatever the nomenclature. They live within us. We know them. Sometimes, they are our neighbours.”
“So, what we can do to help in the fight against insecurity is to provide information to security agencies, bring this information to the soldiers where we are deployed and other services. We all work together to provide security and arrest these security challenges that we are facing.
“So, I urge you to continue to support us and other security agencies because we work together so that we can bring peace and security across Nigeria. This will enable all of us to go about our normal businesses without hindrance.”
Yahaya said the NADCEL is held yearly with medical outreach and other projects implemented by the Nigerian Army across the country, targeting the less privileged in its host communities.
He explained that the Mpape community was selected in the FCT because of its population and the organising committee’s assessment of the needs of the people around the area.
Acting Corp Commander Medical Services Army, Col. I. B. Sholebo said an estimated 1,000 persons were expected to benefit from the free medical outreach in Mpape community.
The community’s traditional ruler, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Gimba, thanked the Army for the free medical service.
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