Former National Security Adviser General Aliyu Gusau (rtd) has stated that Nigeria is a challenging country to defend, with an estimated population of 223.8 million and a diversified topography spanning 923,768 square kilometers.
Speaking at the launch of the Askarawa security outfit created by the Zamfara State government to supplement the work of the security agencies on Wednesday, the retired general stated that “expecting a single police force to patrol and control such a large and complex nation effectively is a very tall order indeed.”
The former Minister of Defence stated that it is time for Nigerians to reconsider their strategy in the best interests of the country, lamenting that innocent lives are being lost on a daily basis as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cultism, among other vices, have become the norm across Nigeria.
He further observed that, although culprits act with impunity, additional military deployment to hotspots has not yielded the expected outcomes, emphasizing that the Zamfara State Government’s action will supplement the activities of the regular police force.
To ensure its success, he believes that proper support mechanisms should be strategically developed.
He underlined the importance of improved inter-agency coordination and cooperation among the government, private sector, and individuals.