Major General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, expressed his concern regarding the prolonged delay in the trial of suspects who were handed over to civil authorities for prosecution.
According to reports, approximately 2000 individuals suspected of being Boko Haram terrorists, who were apprehended by security agencies, have yet to face trial.
Musa highlighted that the sluggish pace of criminal trials has become a challenge for military operations.
In a statement issued by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, Musa conveyed these sentiments during a courtesy visit by Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna state, in Abuja on Tuesday night.
The statement partly read, “The CDS noted that one of the challenges facing the Military in the discharge of its duties is the administrative bottlenecks involved in the dispensation of judicial cases involving criminals handed over to the civil authority for prosecution.”
Musa was also quoted as stating that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are intending to assess and revise their operational methods.
He further assured that both the military’s kinetic (direct combat) and non-kinetic (strategies that don’t involve direct combat, such as intelligence gathering or diplomacy) operations would be strengthened to effectively address the prevailing insecurity in the country.
“Major General Musa assured the governor of the AFN’s commitment to supporting all parts of Nigeria, especially Kaduna state to combat insecurity.
“According to the Defence Chief, the AFN is looking at reviewing its operational modalities to enhance capabilities for a better result. He added that kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to our operations will be strengthened to boost the fight against criminality in the country,” the statement added.
Gusau mentioned that Musa also emphasized the importance of engaging the youth in meaningful activities as a means to reduce crime nationwide.
During the meeting, Governor Uba Sani expressed his appreciation for the significant support provided by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the state. He called for further assistance to enhance security in Kaduna and its surrounding areas.
The Governor highlighted that Kaduna state serves as a central hub in Northern Nigeria, and it requires a state of relative peace and harmony to thrive.
He further stated that the state is willing to provide support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria by offering local intelligence and other necessary resources to enable the military to carry out its constitutional responsibilities without obstacles.
