A non-governmental organisation, the CLEEN Foundation, has inaugurated a project to boost the relationship between the military authorities and the civilian populace, stating that a robust civil-military relationship is key to ending insurgency in the country.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Benson Olugbuo, who addressed a news conference on Friday in Abuja to commemorate the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, explained that the military needed civilian collaboration to overcome terrorism.
According to him, without public support, military campaigns to tackle insurgency may not yield the expected gains, noting that this informed the thinking of the foundation to promote dialogue to build public support for the military.
Olugbuo noted that there was a need to bridge the gap between the military and the civilians, which he said had not been very cordial.
This, he attributed to the long years of military rule in the country and the increased military deployment across civilian space.
Olugbuo observed that the military, ordinarily, was supposed to be consigned to the barracks except when called upon to defend the country’s territory, but added that their deployment in public space had generated tension and created face-offs.
He added that though the Nigerian military had engaged in successful military operations in various peace-keeping missions to restore peace in troubled countries, these success stories, he stated, were often under-reported in the media.
He lauded the military for sustaining the war against insurgency in the country despite increased attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Olugbuo added, “Despite these successes, there is existing tension between the military and the civilians which is as a result of the long military rule experienced in the past and increased military deployment across civilian space linked to the war against insurgency.”
The Executive Director of the foundation, Benson Olugbuo, who addressed a news conference on Friday in Abuja to commemorate the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, explained that the military needed civilian collaboration to overcome terrorism.
According to him, without public support, military campaigns to tackle insurgency may not yield the expected gains, noting that this informed the thinking of the foundation to promote dialogue to build public support for the military.
Olugbuo noted that there was a need to bridge the gap between the military and the civilians, which he said had not been very cordial.
This, he attributed to the long years of military rule in the country and the increased military deployment across civilian space.
Olugbuo observed that the military, ordinarily, was supposed to be consigned to the barracks except when called upon to defend the country’s territory, but added that their deployment in public space had generated tension and created face-offs.
He added that though the Nigerian military had engaged in successful military operations in various peace-keeping missions to restore peace in troubled countries, these success stories, he stated, were often under-reported in the media.
He lauded the military for sustaining the war against insurgency in the country despite increased attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Olugbuo added, “Despite these successes, there is existing tension between the military and the civilians which is as a result of the long military rule experienced in the past and increased military deployment across civilian space linked to the war against insurgency.”
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