Don’t shield criminals, COAS urges Imo residents
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has urged residents of Imo State not to condone or shield criminal elements in their communities.
Oluyede gave the charge during a key stakeholders’ engagement forum with the theme “Taking the Nigerian Army to the Communities,” held on Thursday in Owerri, the state capital.
Represented by Maj. Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, the Army chief called for joint efforts between citizens and security agencies to ensure peace and security in Imo and across the country.
Ajunwa cautioned that tolerating criminality would only worsen insecurity and bring suffering upon communities.
“What you condone is what you tolerate, and what you tolerate is what will destroy you,” he said.
He assured that the Nigerian Army would continue to engage and listen to the people in its efforts to secure the nation, noting that most security threats confronting the country were internal rather than external.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Civil–Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, said the forum was one of the Army’s non-kinetic strategies aimed at strengthening public confidence and cooperation in tackling insecurity.
Chibuisi explained that the engagement was designed to gather ideas and suggestions that could improve the Army’s operational activities.
“Insecurity is an ill wind that blows no one any good. Over the years, the components of our security landscape have evolved from traditional threats to more sophisticated challenges that make every citizen a stakeholder in achieving national security,” he said.
“While the Nigerian Army and other security agencies may be the primary responders, defeating our common enemy requires the collective effort of all law-abiding Nigerians.”
Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Community Policing, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, described the forum as timely and reaffirmed the commitment of traditional institutions to continued collaboration with security agencies in combating crime.
Also speaking, the Acting Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State chapter, Rev. Uzoma Uzoeshi, recommended seven measures to enhance peace and security. These include strengthened community engagement, youth entrepreneurship, a more robust justice system, adoption of equity and fairness, improved surveillance and monitoring to curb drug-related crimes, interfaith dialogue, and sustained collaboration among religious, traditional, and socio-economic groups to promote peace
