The Nigeria’s Minister of Defense Muhammad Badaru has told BBC Hausa service that Tinubu administration has recruited between 35-40,000 Nigerians into the services of the Nigerian army.
Badaru who stated this in a BBC Hausa special Saturday programme (Gane Mani Hanya) said the number comprises those recruited in the land army Airforce and Navy.
He stated further that the Tinubu administration has ensured that in every six months an average of (6000) Nigerians are employed in the land army apart from those employed on direct short service (Senior Cadre).
While trying to assess the successes recorded by Tinubu administration in the area of security, Minister Badaru said, unlike before, major roads that were not motorable before due to the activities of the insurgents are now accessible and people can move freely.
He highlighted some of them to include Kaduna to Birnin Gwary road, Zaria-Funtua-Gusah road as well as Zamfara to Jibiya road including some important ones in Borno State which he said are now made secured for commuters and travelers.
He also said that the Tinubu administration has successfully reduced the threats constituted against Nigerians by IPOB, especially their seat at home threat, which he said has been reduced.
He also said their administration has helped in reducing oil vandalism and theft in the south-south part of Nigeria.
While attributing the successes of the Tinubu administration to the effort by the combined security forces, Badaru said strong synergy has now been created from among the military and other sister security agencies such as the police and operatives of the NSCDC.
He cited references with operations Fansar Yamma, Operations Hadin Kai and lots of them noting that without perfected synergy the level of successes recorded in the fight against insurgents in Nigeria would have not been achieved.
On Zamfara State, Badaru specifically argued that compared to where we came from relative peace has been achieved.
“When you entered Zamfara and move around to ask people about security, I am sure people would tell you that relative progress has been achieved even though we are not saying the fight against banditry has ended” The Minister stated.
He also said similar peace effort has been restored in places like Sokoto and Katsina states.
On the issue of community security employed by most Governors where insurgence persist Badaru said, the effort was to compliment the contributions of the federal government agencies since it was very difficult for the federal government to cover the entire land mass and community settlements with enough soldiers or security forces.
He also explained that the essence of accepting the initiative is because they are to empower the conventional soldiers with adequate knowledge of the terrain and how to reach out the criminals.
The Minister also explained that the recent development in neighboring Sahel region emanating from insecurity and how that is impacting badly on the security of Nigeria is another factor the Tinubu administrationis working on to address.
He explained that the administration of Bola Tinubu is working harder to bring an end to the two terrorists groups Lukurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi axis, as well as the other one that emerged in Kwara state.
