FG to launch national security campaign against insurgency, says Information Minister

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, says the ministry will launch a national security campaign against insurgency in the North-East of the country.

Mohammed spoke on Sunday when he paid a visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bama town of Borno.

According to him, intelligence gathering and robust advocacy will be used to sensitise Nigerians on the need to wage war against the insurgents.

“No nation succeeded in the fight against insurgency without the civilian component.

“So, we will let Nigerians know that the fight against insurgency is a national issue and not to see it as ethnic or religious issue,’’ the minister said.

He said that the ministry would roll out national jingles to educate Nigerians on the need to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements to the security agencies.

Mohammed commended the military for keeping Nigeria one, and taking back Bama town and other communities in the North-East from the insurgents.

According to him, the Federal Government will ensure that no Nigerian territory remained in the hands of insurgents before the end of the year.

He said as the insurgents failed to make further attack on villages, they could go under to attack soft targets such as hotels, markets, mosques and churches.

“I urge Nigerians to be vigilant in these public places and ensure that they know their neigbours’ means of livelihood with a view to complementing the military’s efforts against the insurgents.

” I also call for synergy between the military and the media to enhance mutual understanding in the war against insurgency because security is everybody’ business,” he said.

Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said the operation covered Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and parts of Gombe and Bauchi states.
He urged Nigerians to join the military in the fight against insurgency.

Abubakar said every Nigerian has a role to play to complement the military’s efforts as the military cannot be everywhere.
He said the command had dislodged insurgents in over 50 villages and gave humanitarian services to IDPs in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other humanitarian agencies.