Insurgency: Northeast backs move to engage ex-soldiers

The North-East Peoples Forum (NEPF) yesterday lauded the Defence Headquarters over its resolution to involve retired military veterans in the war against insurgency.

It would be recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, had recently toured the six geopolitical zones and met with retired military officers, to seek their advice on how to fight the insecurity in the country.

The DHQ had organized a threeday skill acquisition training for retired military veterans to enable them engage in productive ventures.

The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Small and

Medium Development Agency.

NEPF President, Waziri Gombe, in a statement yesterday, said putting an end to the North-East crisis should be a collaborative effort.

Gombe said: “We appreciate the Defence Headquarters for this training. Definitely, it will reduce the lure for criminality by the veterans, because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

“The effort by the DHQ comes at a time ISWAP/Boko Haram are desperately luring our people into becoming fighters. We therefore urge the governors of the North-East states to partner with the DHQ in this laudable initiative.

“Once more, we appeal to our NorthEast people to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure insurgency is brought to an end.’’