September 24, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Elders Forum For Peace and Stability has commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to end kidnapping and banditry in the North.
The Chairman of the Forum, Ambassador Bature Abdul’Aziz, gave the commendation while addressing newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.
Abdul’Aziz also hailed the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawale, for relocating to Sokoto to ensure the success of the ongoing fight against insecurity in the region.
“We also hail the Nigerian military for the success they are currently recording in the fight against banditry and kidnapping and we urge them to sustain the tempo.
“The strategy they are using to defeat the criminals was first adopted by the military in the previous government of President Muhammadu Buhari on Boko Haram when many of them were killed and as we speak, about 200,000 of the fighters have surrendered and are currently being de-radicalised.
“What the fighting troops need now are improved welfare and the support of the generality of Nigerians to enable them to defeat the terrorists once and for all.
“As Elders, we strongly support the Nigerian troops, the two Ministers of Defence and the President for their efforts to ensure peace in the country, and we assure you that we will not relent in our support to them,” he said.
The Chairman appealed to the government and the military to accept bandits who are ready to surrender but with all their weapons and ensure that they are taken to de-radicalisation centres “to free them of their barbaric thinking”.
“Government should accept those bandits who are ready to surrender themselves to authorities and maintain peace in the country, but they should surrender with all their weapons and submit themselves to the military,” he added.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
