The federal government says it
will withdraw the military currently stationed in some volatile spots in the
country beginning from the first quarter of 2020.
Ibok-Ete Ibas, chief of naval
staff, disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents after the
national security council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari
on Monday.
The military commenced
specialised operations in various parts of the country following increasing
security challenges.
Some of the military operations
were targeted at ending banditry and cattle rustling in the north as well as
militancy and kidnapping in the south.
Ibas said part of what was agreed
at the meeting is to gradually halt the operations after an assessment of areas
involved.
He said the assessment would help
determine where peace has returned to enable civil authorities led by the to
assume full control of security.
He added that the withdrawal o
troops will also allow the military to focus on its primary duty of defending
the nation against external aggression.
“It is the work of the police to
handle internal security, since Nigeria is not at war,” he said.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps will support the police to provide internal security. Also, you
will remember that additional 10,000 personnel were approved for the police
recently for recruitment.”
