The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division, Major-Gen. Peter Dauke, has urged Nigerians and citizens of neighbouring countries to be vigilant so as to identify insurgents fleeing from Sambisa Forest.
The GOC spoke yesterday when he visited the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) office in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
According to him, the warning became necessary following hints that the insurgents may try to mingle with innocent citizens.
His words: “The Army has already defeated the sect from their base in Sambisa forest, and it will be impossible for them to return. So, they are on the run and will try to mingle with innocent Nigerians.
“For the remaining battle, we want the cooperation of the civilian population to enable us clear the country of these insurgents. We encourage every city to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or groups to the nearest security agency.
“Having gone this far, we consider the civilian population a vital troop to clear the country of these run-away members, so that we will collectively make this country safe for our co-existence,” he said.
Director General and Chief Executive of the ITF Sir Joseph Ari called on Nigerians to continue to pray for the Army to succeed in their efforts to rid the country of insurgency.
Sir Ari, however, advocated a post-Sambisa programme, which will entail training youths to become useful.
“There should be a deliberate plan to train youths of the Northeast and provide them with necessary skills that will make them self-sufficient and productive.
“By so doing, they will be unavailable for recruitment into insurgency activities.
“ITF, in 2016, trained 1,100 youths of the Northeast and will do more this year,” he said.
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