Some youths under the aegis of the National Youth Forum (NYF) have urged the elites to exercise caution while commenting on the security challenges bedeviling the country.
NYF made the call in a statement signed by its President, Tanko Gambo and Secretary, Jamiu Adigun, on Saturday in Abuja.
The youth group said the statement was in reaction to the comment by a former minister who accused the military high command of failing to proffer solution to the nation’s security challenges.
According to the group, the former minister also accused the military of being part of a conspiracy to truncate the country’s democracy as well as ignoring an earlier warning on the Kuje attack.
It said the forum, however, commended the former minister for his concern on the situation, saying it reflected the current mood of the nation.
“We as youths and students are concerned with what is happening in our dear country.
“We are not here to defend anyone but, having studied the situation, we feel that caution and faith are needed to see us through these trying times.
“Sincerely, like what our senior brother, the former minister, said, the situation is bad, but it is not hopeless.”
The group noted that for some obvious reasons, the military would not come out publicly and say what it was doing to stem the security challenges, but that did not mean it had failed or not doing anything about it.
“Just this week, we read that troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralisd some terrorists at Gamage in Borno.
“We believe several efforts are being made to restore peace and stability in the country,” it said.
The forum said that President Muhammadu Buhari had on several occasions acknowledged the efforts of the military and the successes from the renewed interservice synergy being marshalled by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
It dismissed the allegation that the military was working to truncate democracy, saying the military high command had time without number pledged loyalty to democratic rule in the country.
The forum commended the former minister for also acknowledging international dimension to the security situation, adding that the assertion might not be far from the truth.
It called for a united front to face the challenge head on, adding that countries across the world were facing different challenges.
“Just this year, there have been more than 300 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive.
“The shooting of July 4, parade in Highland Park Ill that left six people dead and dozens injured was one of 14 mass shootings over the long weekend.
“There have been just over 100 since a rampage at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead on May 24.
It acknowledged that the situations abroad might not be an excuse for mayhem in the country.
“NYF insists that just like U.S. citizens, we must come together and quash the evil plans by enemies of the country.
“We must not cause more harm in trying to proffer solution.”
NAN
