Buratai: Intelligence gathering crucial in tackling insecurity

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff (COAS), has urged Nigerians to provide the military with intelligence reports to effectively curtail the insecurity challenges in the country.

Buratai made the call on Wednesday while briefing reporters shortly after he paid a condolence visit to Kingsley Otuaro, the acting governor of Delta state, over the death of David Ejoor, former COAS, and Governor of Mid-Western state.

“Intelligence gathering is key to tackling insecurity and people are the first point of contact in terms of intelligence,” he said.

He said the military had mobilised troops fully into the areas that have security challenges in the north-west.

“We are mobilising to ensure that areas that have security challenges are addressed. Of recent, we made some progress; many of the bandits have been arrested, and those that have encounter with our troops are being neutralised,” he said.

“Intelligence is key, we need the masses’ support to give us useful information to identify all those criminals, they are not from outer space, they are within our communities.

“The earlier they identify them and fish them out, the better for everybody.”

Buratai attributed the persistent farmers and herdsmen crisis in some parts of the country to communal crisis.

He said the menace could be addressed with the combine efforts of the community, civil populace, police and the military.

“Community and civil efforts are very crucial, aside the police and military efforts in curtailing, reducing or eliminating insecurity challenges in the country,” he said.