A coalition of youth organizations in Nigeria, under the banner of the North East Coalition Against Terrorism, has called on the nation’s youth to stand firmly behind the military in its battle against insurgency in the northeast. The coalition, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, expressed strong support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and urged young Nigerians to refrain from joining groups that threaten the nation’s peace.
The statement followed the recent appointment of Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar as the new Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, the military operation focused on combating terrorism in the northeast. The coalition, led by its convener, Ismail Mustapha, and secretary, Danlami Bukar, welcomed the new appointment, which they see as a vital step in renewing the military’s focus and effectiveness in dealing with insurgent threats.
“We must all unite and reject any form of support for groups that do not have the interest of our nation at heart. This is a fight that concerns us all, and as young people, we must do our part by supporting the military,” the statement read.
The youth group also expressed confidence in the leadership of General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, asserting that his command would provide the military with the strategy and leadership necessary to defeat the insurgents. According to the coalition, the fresh leadership of Major General Abubakar would help provide new strategies for addressing the challenges posed by insurgency in the region.
The coalition’s call for action highlights the importance of youth involvement in national security and the need for collective support to restore peace in the northeast, where terrorism has had a devastating impact on communities. The group reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside the military and other stakeholders to ensure that terrorist groups are decisively defeated, allowing the region to return to normalcy.
This call to action comes amid continued efforts by the Nigerian military to curb insurgency, with renewed focus on operations that seek to clear the region of terrorist elements and restore order to affected areas.