Insurgency will soon be a thing of the past –Minimah

REPORT FROM NEWSWATCH TIMES

(NIGERIA) Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, yesterday said terrorism is a global security threat, which is not meant to stay in Nigeria, saying that the way it came to the country, it would soon be a thing of the past.

The Nigerian Army Chief stated this at the graduation of 151 junior armed forces officers from Junior Course 78/2014 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, in Kaduna.

He also insisted that terrorism did not start in Nigeria, as many other countries of the world have had to contend with same challenge in the past.

His words, “you must have noticed that, the global security environment of the 21st Century is becoming increasingly complex, with many, national, regional and transnational threats that undermine national and international security across the regions, sub-regions and the entire landscape of the world. And of course Nigeria is not an exception.

Today, we have terrorism on our soils. Many nations, including ours have had to contend with asymmetric threats that are mostly intra-state in nature.

Gentlemen, terrorism did not develop here, it only came here and we pray it will also pass through here and go to some other place where it is going.” Minimah said.

He then tasked the graduating students that much is expected from them in the nation’s efforts to rid its soils of terrorism and other security challenges.

In his words, “You must brace up to these challenges with courage, conviction and in the most professional manner. Your ability to apply the skills learnt here is imperative now that, our nation is confronting an array of internal security challenges.

“As future leaders of your services and organisations, I am happy to note that, this course has amply prepared you for the arduous task ahead.” He explained.

General Minimah who was the Guest of Honour at the graduation however commended the Directing Staff and Management of the college for transforming the officers into very useful human resources for national development.

In his welcome address, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice Marshal John Chris Ifemeje said, the intense training and academic activities was designed to equip the officers with the appropriate skills to function as grade 3 Staff Officers and Junior Commanders in their various services and in tri-service establishments.

Among the 151 graduands were, 59 Nigerian Army officers, 45 Nigerian Navy officers, 28 Nigerian Air Force officers and 11 non-military officers from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Department of State Services (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).