The Military High Command has emphasized that if citizens channel the same level of support towards the armed forces as displayed during recent protests against bad governance, the issues of insecurity and criminality in the country could be swiftly overcome.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, made this assertion on Thursday, noting the varied interpretations of the protests across the country.
“Before the protest, we did observe that the protest would be interpreted in several forms due to the prevailing situation in the country and warned against it,” Buba stated.
“We observed the protest means different things to different people. To some people, the protest was peaceful as recorded in the South. To some people, the protest meant riots, to some it meant looting and to others it meant demonstrations.”
He further explained that various interest groups, including sovereign interference groups, terrorist organizations, and political factions, had hijacked the situation for their purposes.
Buba reiterated the importance of collective effort in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.
“As we have always said, the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and others should not be left for security agencies alone. If the citizens display the same energy and vigour that was witnessed in many parts of the country during the protest against bad governance to support the armed forces, the issue of insecurity and criminality would be defeated quickly,” he emphasized.
The military official also encouraged ongoing support from citizens, urging them to collaborate with security agencies.
“We encourage citizens to partner with security agencies by providing information, seeing something, and saying something, and security agencies will take action,” Buba concluded.