Insecurity: Lalong advocates military training for all Nigerians

By YUSUF IDEGU, Jos

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has advocated for elementary military training for all citizens to curb high rate of abduction and other attacks in the country.

Lalong, who is the Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum, said if all citizens are equipped with basic security knowledge, bandits and kidnappers will not be able to get away with most of attacks.

Lalong was speaking at Government House, Rayfield Jos, when having interactive session with journalists yesterday.

Lalong who expresses worries over abduction of school children in recent times also advocate for a return of Boys Scout, Boys Brigade, Man O War to all primary and secondary schools across the country.

According to Lalong, the presence of Boy Scouts, Man O War and Boys Brigade at the hostels will serve internal security for the schools and will be able to foil any form of kidnapping in schools.

He said closing of schools in fear of kidnappers can never be a solution to attacks at schools, saying what is required is to strengthen internal security at schools by re-introducing  the boys scouts, man o war and boys brigade.

On Security of lives and prosperity generally, Lalong said: “If all citizens is armed with basic security knowledge, they will be able to secure their environment and assist government security agencies with relevant security information.”

Lalong observed that criminals are having a field day in the country because citizens rely only on security agencies, but the security agencies will do better when citizens are more security conscious and are ready to cooperate with security agencies around them.

“Citizens can prevent so many activities of criminals if they are security conscious, and to be security conscious you must have basic military training which will enable you detect criminal motive before they strike,” he said.

Lalong however expressed confidence in the capacity of the new security chiefs to overcome bandits and Boko Haram.