Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede has directed Theatre Commanders in charge of Joint Task Force operations to fully integrate henceforth Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) into their operational activities geared towards enhancing confidence amongst local populace.
To achieve the objectives, he asked them to promote effective professionalism and facilitate good livelihoods for their host communities by resettling displaced communities, provide amenities and humanitarian services in order to reinforce public confidence in military operations.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja disclosed this while briefing defence correspondents at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on ongoing military operations in April across several theatres in the country.
Reaffirming that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) considered community cooperation as a vital pillar of national security and peace building activities, he said that efforts would continue to be made expand and deepen CIMIC initiatives as part of efforts to build broad, inclusive and sustainable peace across the country.
According to him, the AFN recognised that since lasting peace would not be achieved through strictly kinetic operations alone, aggressive, sustained and robust Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities were being conducted across all its theatres of operations.
He further disclosed that within the period under review, peace and security meetings were conducted in Logo, Guma, and Agatu LGAs of Benue State to promote peaceful coexistence and address recurring communal and ethnic tensions with other similar outings in Takum and Donga LGAs of Taraba State, as well as Toto LGA of Nasarawa State successfully conducted with amazing results.
For example, Operation ENDURING PEACE carried out civil-military relations initiatives in Mangu LGA of Plateau State, including distributing fertiliser to representatives of traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and Jama’tul Islam, as well as organising a 17-kilometre marathon towards fostering unity and strengthening community trust, with prizes awarded to top participants.
Also, the Operation launched a concerted campaign in Southern Kaduna to secure the farming season through enhanced security, farmer support and community collaboration to prevent conflict and ensure food production.
He stressed that the weight of operational outcomes recorded by the troops reflected a sustained dedicated campaign to ensure food security.
He conveyed the assurances of the CDS to all Nigerians that all communities are considered crucial and important to the Armed Forces, and that no criminal or terrorist organisation, regardless of its financial resources, geographic spread, or ideological ambition would be allowed to have its way in criminality.
He solicited the continued support and cooperation of the Nigerian public in partnership with Armed Forces by providing accurate, timely and credible intelligence through available reporting channels.
He also urged the media to sustain responsible, factual, and patriotic reporting capable of enhancing national security objectives and countering devious terrorist propaganda.
