Retired military officers and associates of the late former director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Abubakar Rabe (rtd), who died in bandits’ captivity recently, have cautioned Nigerians against attributing the nation’s security challenges to the northern region.
They maintained that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping have become a national challenge.
At a news conference in Kaduna in honour of Gen. Rabe, Brig. Gen. Ismaila Abdullahi (rtd), who spoke on behalf of the retired military officers, said the death of Rabe was a painful reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the country.
They commended the efforts of both the federal and Katsina State governments, particularly the operation that secured the release of the deceased officer’s wife, Hajia Amina Rabe Abubakar.
According to them, the country’s response to insecurity must become more proactive and realistic.
Those who attended the media briefing were Ambassador A. Mohammed Musawa, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), Brig-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), Ambassador Ibrahim Usman Gafai and Brig-Gen. Abdulkadir Abubakar (rtd).
Gen. Abdullahi said, “These incidents of insecurity have attracted not only condemnation but also taken ethnic coloration, with some commentators blaming the northern region for all the ills of the Nigerian state.”
“We need to ask ourselves certain fundamental questions: Why are we so good at selective outrage and justice? Are the rising terrorism and kidnapping activities in the country truly isolated northern problems? Can any part of this nation remain unconcerned by the current onslaught of kidnappings, banditry and terrorism? Abdullahi asked”
“The current terrorism and kidnapping trend in Nigeria, across the states, makes it difficult to separate regions of conflict and regions of peace,” the statement said.
The retired officers identified insufficient political will by the government at all levels as one of the major obstacles to defeating terrorism and banditry.
Commenting on Nigeria’s security partnerships with the United States and other countries, the group said, “No nation can defend our country, and certainly a strategy based solely on any foreign power cannot succeed without our country taking the lead,” they said.
The former military officers, however, called on the northern governors to work together to develop and implement a regional security framework aimed at curbing illegal arms proliferation and tackling banditry and kidnappings.
They, however, appealed to the governments to provide prompt support to families of serving and retired security personnel affected by terrorism and kidnapping, while intensifying efforts to secure the release of Nigerians still being held captive.
