Persistent security challenges worrisome, says Chief of Defence Staff, Olonisakin

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, at the weekend said that persistent security challenges across the country had become very worrisome.

He, however, assured of renewed efforts by the nation’s armed forces and security agencies to tackle insurgency and terrorism and other endemic ills nationwide.

The CDS said that the continuous bombing, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, among others, were hampering the growth of the economy.

He however, assured that the armed forces would flush out all the economic saboteurs perpetrating evil in the country.

Olonisakin, who gave the assurance during the passing out parade of the Batch 28 trainees of the Nigeria Navy Basic Training School, Onne, in Rivers State, charged the officers to be courageous, morally upright and to be resilient in whatever role they found themselves.

He said: “I expect you all to be courageous, morally upright in whatever role you find yourself as part of the ongoing national effort to confront these endemic ills.”

He further advised the graduands to remain apolitical at all times and also resist being used by some individuals for selfish reasons.

Meanwhile, Commander, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Maj.-Gen. Augustine Agundu, has described as unfortunate the attitude of some public commentators and social critics on issues emboldening the criminals in the society to continue on the path of unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens, especially in Plateau state.

Agundu said that their unpatriotic utterances had continued to sow seeds of discord across ethnic divides.

“Operation Safe Haven, under my command, and indeed all the security agencies in Plateau State have worked assiduously to eliminate the initial factors that led to the many years of crises. We are determined than ever to say, never again will the cancerous factors resonate.

“My experiences here give an indication of a multi-faceted crisis that requires multi-dimensional approach to solving them,” he said.

The OPSH commander, who spoke at the launching of “Operation Puff Adder” by the Plateau State Police Command in Jos, said the launching aimed at getting rid of criminality in the state.

He urged the well-meaning citizens of Plateau State to imbibe the winds of positive change that are blowing across the state.