By Sumaila Ogbaje
Stayalert Human Right Awareness Initiative (SHRAI), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO)has said the nation’s security challenge has improved since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
The Director of Publicity of SHRAI, Mr Amechi Onyema, said this while addressing a news conference with theme, “One Year of Tinubu/Shettima: Assessing the Impact of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, on Thursday in Abuja.
Onyema said the assessment of the military was part of activities to commemorate the first anniversary of the Tinubu-Shettima presidency.
He said the administration came onboard at a time when terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements were holding the country to ransom.
Onyema said the group carefully studied what had been done in the past one year to bring peace and stability to volatile parts of the country because of its concern about the security challenges the country had faced.
In counter-insurgency operations, he said investigation by the group had revealed that terrorists, insurgents and other criminals had been feeling the heat of intensive military operations across the country.
According to him, over 4,600 hostages have been freed, more than 9,300 hostilities neutralised, and over 7,000 terrorists and bandits arrested.
“We can boldly say that in the past one year, the security situation has improved.
“The stay at home in the South-East has fizzled out as people in that region are now more relaxed, likewise in the North-East and North-West. We cannot but commend the armed forces,” he said.
In the fight against crude oil theft, Onyema said the relentless pursuit of oil thieves and economic saboteurs by the troops of Operation Delta Safe had boosted oil production and reduction in oil theft.
He said the successes recorded by the military was as a result of the renewed synergy among the services and with other security agencies in the theatres of operation.
The spokesman for the group also said that leadership of the military led by Christopher Musa, had continued to stress that democracy was the best and declared loyalty to the constitution of the country.
He added that the group had commended the defense chief for using every opportunity to reaffirm their loyalty to the constitution.
Onyema also commended the leadership of Defense and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) for the supports through empowerment programmes for troops, their families and those of the fallen heroes.
According to him, it is a morale booster to troops engaged in military operations that their today and tomorrow is covered.
“While there is room for improvement and more successes, we are using this opportunity to commend the CDS and his troops for a job well done. We therefore give them score of very good.
“We urge Nigerians to continue to support our troops,” he added. (NAN)