The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has said the insecurity bedevilling the North West region of the country was being made worse by criminal elements involved in illegal mining, banditry, and cattle rustling, among others.
He added that their continuous activities had led to the destruction of life and means of livelihoods.
Lagbaja, represented by the Nigerian Army Chief of Operations, Major General Benson Sijen, spoke at the opening of a three-day retreat for retired and serving commanders in the Northwest, held in Abuja on Monday.
He lamented that despite the Army’s efforts to curb their activities, they continue to impact the Northwest and the country as a whole.
Lagbaja said, “The current security challenges the nation is facing are volatile, complex and fluid and vary from one zone to another. In the Northwest, the security situation is made complex and persistent by activities of non-state actors who engage in banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, illegal mining, and violent attacks leading to the destruction of life and means of livelihoods.
“The activities of these non-state actors have continued to impact the security environment in the Northwest region and, by extension, in our country despite efforts to curb the trend by the Nigerian army, sister services, and other government departments and agencies.”
Lagbaja noted that to rid the North West region of insecurity, the army must review the situation and ensure they are ahead of the criminals.
