AFRICA

Nigeria’s Military Plans Special Forces To Combat Insecurity In FCT

The Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa said the military is pondering having on standby a special security force to address insecurity in the FCT.

He stated this on Friday, in Abuja, during a courtesy call on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Musa noted that the special force would be established in collaboration with other security agencies that would be on alert for 24 hours.

He said a city like the FCT cannot be shorn of criminal tendencies adding, security agencies will continue to reflect on the best kind of response to the situation.

“We are looking at it holistically; to see how we can assist the police in responding to acts of criminality. Like the incident at Kuje prison, the incident of train crash, even though not in the FCT, but within the perimeter of the FCT. What we are trying to do is to build a force that will be on standby 24/7, in case there is anything happening, we can provide additional support to the police,” he said.

General Musa added that the visit was also to appreciate the minister for the support the FCT Administration was giving to security agencies.

“We came here to show appreciation for the good efforts made by the FCT Minister and his team in trying to make sure that the FCT is peaceful and calm and providing amenities for all FCT residents to be comfortable wherever they are. And since we are also FCT residents, we want to say a big thank you to the minister.

“On the issue of security, if you have a mega city like FCT, we will have the good the bad, the ugly coming to live in it and it is my role, working with the police, to make sure that we identify those kind of people, and ensure that the FCT was peaceful and calm.”

In his response, Wike assured the Chief of Defence Staff of FCT Administration’s support in whatever form to improve the security situation in the country and maintain the territorial integrity of the nation.

“Do not hesitate to tell us whatever support you need from the FCT,” Wike said, adding that a provision was made in the budget for the procurement of drones for security agencies against all forms of insecurity, particularly in the FCT.

“What we are also trying to do is to build an FCT Rapid Response Centre that will be managed by a joint team of the military, the police, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”

The minister said that the centre would be equipped with technology to strengthen the fight against insecurity.

He also commiserated with the military and families of the Nigerian military officers who were killed in Okuama, Delta State, describing the incident as barbaric.

He said the FCT Administration will support the Nigerian military in whichever way it could to reduce the pains of the families.

Meanwhile, authorities at the Joint Task Force (JTF) code named Operation Delta Safe have warned neighbouring communities around Okuama to avoid hosting strange people in their areas for now.

Security sources told THISDAY on Friday that the warning was handed to leaders of the communities around Okuama as part of efforts to apprehend suspected killers of 17 soldiers, including four officers,

The military personnel were killed by irate youths during a communal clash over a land dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi Local Government areas of Delta State.

The personnel attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were responding to a distress call when they were ambushed and killed last Thursday.

Sources said that as the search for the killers was being intensified by the military, the surrounding communities were warned to report any strange faces they observed in their areas and report immediately to any nearby military posts.

The warning to the communities was also confirmed during an attempt by THISDAY to visit Okuama for an on the spot assessment of the situation as the contact person (name withheld) kicked against the move.

“I won’t encourage you to come over now. The military have warned us not to entertain strangers or new faces else we will be arrested and treated as accomplices too. Thanks for your understanding,” he said in reply to a text message notifying him about the plan to visit the community.

The troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army were on a peaceful and mediatory mission after a reported communal clash between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State.

Olawale Ajimotokan, Michael Olugbode and Sylvester Idowu