AGAINST the background of heightened insecurity in the country and consequent calls from several quarters for the sack of Service Chiefs, the Federal Government last Tuesday announced the appointment of new Service Chiefs.
THOSE appointed were: Major General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
THE resignations of the former Service Chiefs and their expected exit from service and the coming on board of the new Service Chiefs is viewed by many as an important development in the fight against insecurity in the country. It is expected that the new helmsmen will help strengthen the fight against insecurity for better results.
IT is therefore worth noting that some of the Service Chiefs played important roles in the various operations meant to bring peace to the troubled North East geopolitical zone and other parts of the country equally troubled by various forms of insecurity.
THEIR experiences at the war front is expected to be brought to bear in the steps they would soon be taking to bring peace to the nation plaqued by Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, militants ,and other forms of terrorists.
THEY are therefore expected to consolidate on the gains of their predecessors, and to plug the loopholes that militated against the desired success of the war against insecurity.
TOWARDS this end, the Service Chiefs owe the nation a duty to get government to ensure that the nation’s armed forces are better trained, better equipped and better motivated than before in order to enable them deliver on their professional mandate to secure the nation against external and internal aggression.
AS part of this mandate, government should also ensure a more effective surveillance of the nation’s borders to check smuggling of firearms and terrorists from other climes.
WHILE expecting government to perform its constitutional duty of promoting the security and welfare of Nigerians, The Voice also appeals to sponsors of insurrectionists, bandits and other perpetrators of violence in the country to withdraw their support and convince their foot soldiers to embrace peace.
