As part of plans to launch a national security campaign to counter insurgency across the nation, especially in the North-east, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Friday, met with representatives of relevant agencies in Abuja in an effort to design a national communication strategy for the campaign.
The campaign aims to sensitize Nigerians on their role in the fight against insurgency, with a view to ensuring that they support and also own the war.
”The military may be doing its best, but it cannot win the war alone. No insurgency has ever been won only by military prowess,” Mohammed said.
”Apart from that, it is important to sensitize Nigerians on IEDs – Improvised Explosive Devices, how to recognize one and what to do if they find such. Nigerians must also be made aware of the new tactics of the insurgents, which is to focus on soft targets, like motor parks, entertainment centres, religious houses, etc.
”Having been routed from their strongholds in the North-east, the terrorists have resorted to carrying out cowardly attacks. But these people operate among us. The challenge, therefore, is to fish them out before they strike us. How do we recognize them? How do we keep Nigerians safe, whether at the motor park, in schools, hospitals, hotels or even on the road?” the Minister asked.
The questions posed by the minister are among those the campaign would seek to answer.
The minister said the campaign would not be limited to the North-east alone but will extend to any part of the country where there are agitations for one reason or another and would involve several stakeholders, from religious leaders to traditional rulers.
In attendance at the meeting were representatives of the National Security Adviser, the military, the State Security Service, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the media, the Customs Service, Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration Service, National Emergency Management Agency, National Union of Road Transport Workers as well as National Union of Local Government Employees.
