The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has enjoined the new Service Chiefs on the need to involve responsible opinion community leaders and the civil society for civic contributions in initiatives that will address, police and secured the country.

The CNG spokesman, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, through a statement stated, “We also advise the new Service Chiefs on the imperative of involving responsible opinion from community leaders and the civil society for civic contributions in initiatives that will address the manner the nation is designed to be policed and secured.

“CNG advises President Buhari as a Military General to reassert himself by taking direct control of the fight to secure the nation and to finally reclaim the nation’s to forests, highways and sea that have been lost to insurgents, other armed criminals and assortment of militants in various guises.”

The Coalition expressed satisfaction with the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari who has finally acceded to the huge demands made by Nigerians for the replacement of the nation’s Service Chiefs as a step towards addressing the serious shortfalls in the policing and security institutions.

The statement opined, “The CNG sincerely welcomes the development in the hope that the hundreds of thousands of people in Northern communities that have been at the mercy of insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, rustlers and rapists without any form of security protection would now get respite.”

The statement expected them (Service Chiefs) to work in direct harmony with all components of the Nigerian society for action to immediately disband all militias and armed groups in Nigeria to ensure that no group in future has the capacity to challenge the state in its prerogative to maintain law and order, and protect citizens’ lives and properties.”

It noted that the acceptable position remains that only legally constituted outfits and lawfully sanctioned organizations under the direct control of the Federal Government, as recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, can be so organized, armed and fitted.

According to the statement, “We expect a renewed commitment by our gallant troops and a stronger will from President Buhari in the fight against Boko Haram, bandits and other forms of criminality without the need for floating victory in the media.”

The Coalition urged the service Chiefs to fight this insecurity with resolve and awareness of their obligations under the law, as well as the knowledge that victory would only be pronounced when the nation achieves full cessation of hostilities, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in the entire region.

The CNG appealed to Nigerians to show the highest levels of cooperation, restraint and maturity in the manner they relate with the new security chiefs to ensure our defence.

It said under no circumstances the citizens should encourage or harbour acts that would increase the exposure to crime, lawlessness and insecurity.

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