Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has clarified that the planned withdrawal of troops from internal security operations will not affect areas where peace and security are yet to be achieved.
The President, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, was reacting to the outcry that attended the announcement of plans to restore civil security authority to parts of the country where special military operations had been engaged in recent years.
The President reassured Nigerians that withdrawal of the military from areas where peace had been restored will not be done in a manner that will expose communities to more risks of attacks.
He explained that the withdrawal exercise will be gradual and carefully planned, not abrupt or arbitrary to jeopardise the successes already recorded by the military, saying the “administration will not abandon citizens in need of protection.”
He urged Nigerians, especially public affairs analysts, to carefully study the statement following a security council meeting with service chiefs that the withdrawal of troops will be done after an “assessment” to determine areas where peace had returned to enable civil authorities assume full control.
Read Also: ‘Troops’ performance against terrorists impressive’
President Buhari said where it is determined that the withdrawal will not in any way jeopardize peace already achieved, the military pull out will be in a careful and gradual way.
“You don’t need to worry. We will not expose our people and their communities to harm or danger,” the President assured.
“The withdrawal is to allow the military focus on its primary duty of defending the nation against external aggression. It is the duty of the police to handle internal security since Nigeria is not at war.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will support the police to provide internal security. When it is time to withdraw, nothing will be rushed,’’ he added.
Leave a Reply