The Nigerian Army has held a security summit in Owerri, Imo State, engaging communities in the state on how to effectively participate in combating security challenges in their immediate environment.

The event, attended by various stakeholders in the state including traditional rulers, government officials, religious leaders, youth representatives, among others, was aimed at fostering a healthy relationship between the Army and civilian society while ensuring peace and orderliness.

In his opening remarks, special guest of honour, Major General Obinna Ajunwa, called on Traditional Rulers and other Community leaders to partner security agencies in combating insecurity by way of being cautious of activities capable of causing security breach in their localities.

General Ajunwa noted that the Nigerian Army has put in their best in ensuring that communities in the southeast region are violence free, saying the Army, through efforts of its Imo Command, 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, has been able to tame the tide of violent crimes in some Local Government Areas of the State.

He added that the summit is in line with the policies of the Chief of Army staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede to create harmonious relationship between the Army and the civilian populace, hence the theme of the summit, “Taking The Nigerian Army To The Communities”

Dwelling on the theme, the guest speaker, Brig.Gen.G.O.Anyalemechi, rtd, said it was unfortunate that after the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, the civilian society erroneously started seeing the army as enemies.

Gen. Anyalemechi explained that the Army is regarded as symbol of strength and honour of its country and will always operate in that light.

He, however, maintained that a good civilian-military relationship is handmaid and produces a progressive governance, maintaining that the civilian populace should take responsibility for helping the Nigerian Army in the fight against insecurity by providing them with reliable information.

Among the participants, the President of Orluzurume Youth Assembly, OYA, Prince Izunna Obiefule, commended the military for initiating the programme, regretting that the insecurity situations in the state and other parts of the Southeast were majorly provoked by poor leadership, marginalization and unpatriotism.

Obiefule said if those who command political and economic authority in the country shun greed and corruption, insecurity could not have been the bane of the Nigerian nation.

“The fight against insecurity should start with good governance. Misgovernance sparks crime and violence. While employing democratic governance, rulers should liaise with the Ezes and other relevant bodies in the communities to form local vigilante that only consist of the indigenes to nip insecurity in the bud”, he added.

Nigerian army holds security summit in Imo, engages communities